High heat polycarbonate compositions

ABSTRACT

Polycarbonate blend compositions are disclosed. The compositions include at least one polycarbonate useful for high heat applications. The compositions can include one or more additional polymers. The compositions can include one or more additives. The compositions can be used to prepare articles of manufacture, and in particular, automotive bezels.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 371 of International Application No. PCT/US2015/025986, filed Apr. 15, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/979,904, filed Apr. 15, 2014, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to polycarbonate compositions, methods of using the compositions, and processes for preparing the compositions. In particular, the disclosure relates to polycarbonate compositions having improved thermal, mechanical, or rheological properties. The disclosure also relates to articles comprising the polycarbonate compositions, and more particularly, metallizable articles formed from the compositions.

BACKGROUND

Polycarbonates (PC) are synthetic thermoplastic resins that can be derived from bisphenols and phosgenes by interfacial polymerization, or from bisphenols and diaryl carbonates by melt polymerization. Polycarbonates are a useful class of polymers having many desired properties. They are highly regarded for optical clarity and enhanced impact strength and ductility at room temperature.

Since part designs are becoming more and more complex, a need remains for materials that have an improved balance of properties (e.g., heat resistance, melt flow, impact resistance, and metallizability). In particular, there remains a need for improved polycarbonate compositions, and articles formed from such compositions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary auto bezel that can be molded from a disclosed polycarbonate blend composition. The bezel can be metallized after the molding process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to polycarbonate-based blend compositions, also referred to herein as thermoplastic compositions. The compositions include at least one high heat polycarbonate. The compositions can include one or more additional polymers (e.g., homopolycarbonates, polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymers, polyesters). The compositions can include one or more additives (e.g., fillers, mold release agents, antioxidants). The compositions can have improved thermal properties, mechanical properties, or rheological properties.

The compositions can be used to manufacture a variety of articles, and in particular, metallized articles suited to high heat applications. For example, the compositions can be used to prepare metallized headlamp bezels. Automotive headlamps are increasingly utilizing light sources that operate at higher temperatures and generate greater heat loads than in the past. Headlamps are also becoming a more integral part of automobile design to improve aerodynamics and aesthetic appearance. The result is that headlamp components (e.g., the lens) are closer to the light (and heat) source, necessitating use of materials that have an increased heat resistance while retaining other material characteristics.

The thermoplastic compositions are preferably directly metallizable for use in manufacture of metallized articles (e.g., metallized bezels). Additional preparation steps, such as base coating or chemical etching, can reduce the gloss of the metallized part. Thermoplastics can be evaluated for metallizability by assessing initial appearance after metallization, cross-hatch adhesion, haze onset temperature, and corrosion resistance, for example.

The terms “comprise(s),” “include(s),” “having,” “has,” “can,” “contain(s),” and variants thereof, as used herein, are intended to be open-ended transitional phrases, terms, or words that do not preclude the possibility of additional acts or structures. The singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The present disclosure also contemplates other embodiments “comprising,” “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of,” the embodiments or elements presented herein, whether explicitly set forth or not.

The conjunctive term “or” includes any and all combinations of one or more listed elements associated by the conjunctive term. For example, the phrase “an apparatus comprising A or B” may refer to an apparatus including A where B is not present, an apparatus including B where A is not present, or an apparatus where both A and B are present. The phrases “at least one of A, B, . . . and N” or “at least one of A, B, . . . N, or combinations thereof” are defined in the broadest sense to mean one or more elements selected from the group comprising A, B, . . . and N, that is to say, any combination of one or more of the elements A, B, . . . or N including any one element alone or in combination with one or more of the other elements which may also include, in combination, additional elements not listed.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and the like, as used herein, do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another.

For the recitation of numeric ranges herein, each intervening number there between with the same degree of precision is explicitly contemplated. For example, for the range of 6-9, the numbers 7 and 8 are contemplated in addition to 6 and 9, and for the range 6.0-7.0, the number 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, and 7.0 are explicitly contemplated.

Disclosed are polycarbonate-based blend compositions. The compositions include at least one high heat polycarbonate, which may be referred to herein as “the first polycarbonate.” The compositions may include one or more additional polycarbonates, which may be referred to herein as “the second polycarbonate,” “the third polycarbonate,” and the like. The compositions may include one or more polyesters, which may be referred to herein as “the first polyester,” “the second polyester,” and the like. The compositions may include one or more hydroxyl-functionalized flow promoters (e.g., alkylene glycols). The compositions may include one or more additives.

The compositions include at least one polycarbonate. Polycarbonates of the disclosed blend compositions may be homopolycarbonates, copolymers comprising different moieties in the carbonate (referred to as “copolycarbonates”), copolymers comprising carbonate units and other types of polymer units such as polysiloxane units, polyester units, and combinations thereof.

The polycarbonates may have a Mw (Mw) of 1,500 to 150,000 Daltons [^(±)1,000 Daltons], of 10,000 to 50,000 Daltons [^(±)1,000 Daltons], of 15,000 to 35,000 Daltons [^(±)1,000 Daltons], or of 20,000 to 30,000 Daltons [^(±)1,000 Daltons]. Molecular weight determinations may be performed using gel permeation chromatography (GPC), using a cross-linked styrene-divinylbenzene column and calibrated to polycarbonate references using a UV-VIS detector set at 254 nm. Samples may be prepared at a concentration of 1 mg/ml, and eluted at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min.

The compositions may include one or more homopolycarbonates or copolycarbonates. The term “polycarbonate” and “polycarbonate resin” refers to compositions having repeating units of formula (1):

wherein each R¹⁰⁰ may independently comprise any suitable organic group, such as an aliphatic, alicyclic, or aromatic group, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, R¹⁰⁰ in the carbonate units of formula (1) may be a C₆-C₃₆ aromatic group wherein at least one moiety is aromatic.

The repeating units of formula (1) may be derived from dihydroxy compounds of formula (2): HO—R¹⁰⁰—OH  (2) wherein R¹⁰⁰ is as defined above.

The polycarbonate may include repeating units of formula (3):

wherein each of the A¹ and A² is a monocyclic divalent aryl group and Y¹ is a bridging group having one or two atoms that separate A¹ and A². For example, one atom may separate A¹ from A², with illustrative examples of these groups including —O—, —S—, —S(O)—, —S(O)₂—, —C(O)— methylene, cyclohexyl-methylene, 2-[2.2.1]-bicycloheptylidene, ethylidene, isopropylidene, neopentylidene, cyclohexylidene, cyclopentadecyclidene, cyclododecylidene, and adamantylidene. The bridging group of Y¹ may be a hydrocarbon group such as methylene, cyclohexylidene, or isopropylidene.

The repeating units of formula (3) may be derived from a dihydroxy monomer unit of formula (4): HO-A¹-Y¹-A²-OH  (4) wherein A¹, A², and Y¹ are as defined above.

The polycarbonate may include repeating units of formula (5):

wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are each independently halogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy; p and q are each independently 0 to 4; and X^(a) is a bridging group between the two arylene groups. X^(a) may be a single bond, —O—, —S—, —S(O)—, —S(O)₂—, —C(O)—, or a C₁-C₁₈ organic group. The C₁-C₁₈ organic bridging group may be cyclic or acyclic, aromatic or non-aromatic, and can optionally include halogens, heteroatoms (e.g., oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, or phosphorous), or a combination thereof. The C₁-C₁₈ organic group can be disposed such that the C₆ arylene groups connected thereto are each connected to a common alkylidene carbon or to different carbons of the C₁-C₁₈ organic bridging group. The bridging group X^(a) and the carbonate oxygen atoms of each C₆ arylene group can be disposed ortho, meta, or para (specifically para) to each other on the C₆ arylene group. Exemplary X^(a) groups include, but are not limited to, methylene, ethylidene, neopentylidene, isopropylidene, cyclohexylmethylidene, 1,1-ethene, 2-[2.2.1]-bicycloheptylidene, cyclohexylidene, cyclopentylidene, cyclododecylidene, and adamantylidene.

In certain embodiments, p and q are each 1; R^(a) and R^(b) are each a C₁-C₃ alkyl group, specifically methyl, disposed meta to the oxygen on each ring; and X^(a) is isopropylidene. In certain embodiments, p and q are both 0; and X^(a) is isopropylidene.

In certain embodiments, X^(a) may have formula (6):

wherein R^(c) and R^(d) are each independently hydrogen, halogen, alkyl (e.g., C₁-C₁₂ alkyl), cycloalkyl (e.g., C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl), cycloalkylalkyl (e.g., C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl), aryl (e.g., C₆-C₁₂ aryl), arylalkyl (e.g., C₆-C₁₂-aryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl), heterocyclyl (e.g., five- or six-membered heterocyclyl having one, two, three, or four heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur), heterocyclylalkyl (e.g., five- or six-membered heterocyclyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl), heteroaryl (e.g., five- or six-membered heteroaryl having one, two, three, or four heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur), or heteroarylalkyl (e.g., five- or six-membered heteroaryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl), wherein said alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl, and heteroarylalkyl are each independently unsubstituted or substituted (e.g., substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of —OH, —NH₂, —NO₂, —CN, halo, C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, halo-C₁-C₄-alkyl, halo-C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, hydroxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, amino-C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-alkylamino-C₁-C₄-alkyl, di(C₁-C₄-alkyl)amino-C₁-C₄-alkyl, azido-C₁-C₄-alkyl, cyano-C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, halo-C₁-C₄-alkoxy, C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkoxy, C₂-C₄-alkenyl, and C₂-C₄-alkynyl). In certain embodiments, R^(c) and R^(d) are each independently hydrogen or C₁-C₈ alkyl. In certain embodiments, R^(c) and R^(d) are each methyl. Exemplary groups of formula (6) include, but are not limited to, methylene, ethylidene, neopentylidene, and isopropylidene.

In certain embodiments, X^(a) may have formula (7):

wherein R^(e) is a divalent C₁-C₃₁ group. In certain embodiments, R^(e) is a divalent hydrocarbyl (e.g., a C₁₂-C₃₁ hydrocarbyl), a cycloalkylidene (e.g., a C₅-C₁₈ cycloalkylidene), a cycloalkylene (e.g., a C₅-C₁₈ cycloalkylene), a heterocycloalkylidene (e.g., a C₃-C₁₈ heterocycloalkylidene), or a group of the formula —B¹-G-B²— wherein B¹ and B² are the same or different alkylene group (e.g., a C₁-C₆ alkylene group) and G is a cycloalkylidene group (e.g., a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkylidene group) or an arylene group (e.g., a C₆-C₁₆ arylene group), wherein said hydrocarbyl, cycloalkylidene, cycloalkylene, and heterocycloalkylidene are each independently unsubstituted or substituted (e.g., substituted with 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of —OH, —NH₂, —NO₂, —CN, halo, C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, halo-C₁-C₄-alkyl, halo-C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, hydroxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl, amino-C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-alkylamino-C₁-C₄-alkyl, di(C₁-C₄-alkyl)amino-C₁-C₄-alkyl, azido-C₁-C₄-alkyl, cyano-C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, halo-C₁-C₄-alkoxy, C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkoxy, C₂-C₄-alkenyl, and C₂-C₄-alkynyl). Exemplary groups of formula (7) include, but are not limited to, 2-[2.2.1]-bicycloheptylidene, cyclohexylidene, cyclopentylidene, cyclododecylidene, and adamantylidene.

The repeating structural units of formula (5) may be derived from a dihydroxy monomer unit of formula (8):

wherein X^(a), R^(a), R^(b), p, and q are as defined above. In certain embodiments, p and q are both 0, and X^(a) is isopropylidene.

The polycarbonate may include repeating units of formula (9), formula (10), formula (11), or a combination thereof:

wherein R¹³ at each occurrence is independently a halogen or a C₁-C₆ alkyl group; R¹⁴ is independently a C₁-C₆ alkyl, phenyl, or phenyl substituted with up to five halogens or C₁-C₆ alkyl groups; R^(a) and R^(b), at each occurrence, are each independently a halogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy; c is independently 0 to 4; and p and q are each independently 0 to 4. In a specific embodiment, R¹⁴ is a C₁-C₆ alkyl or phenyl group. In still another embodiment, R¹⁴ is a methyl or phenyl group. In another specific embodiment, c is 0; p is 0; and q is 0.

The dihydroxy compound of formula (12) can have formula (15), which may be useful for high heat applications:

(also known as 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylisoindolin-1-one (PPPBP)).

The polycarbonate may include repeating units of formula (16):

wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are each independently halogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy; R^(g) is independently C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or halogen, or two R^(g) groups together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached may form a four-, five, or six-membered cycloalkyl group; p and q are each independently 0 to 4; and t is 0 to 10. R^(a) and R^(b) may be disposed meta to the cyclohexylidene bridging group. The substituents R^(a), R^(b) and R^(g) may, when comprising an appropriate number of carbon atoms, be straight chain, cyclic, bicyclic, branched, saturated, or unsaturated. In one example, R^(a), R^(b) and R^(g) are each independently C₁-C₄ alkyl, p and q are each 0 or 1, and t is 0 to 5. In another example, R^(a), R^(b) and R^(g) are each methyl, p and q are each 0 or 1, and t is 0 or 3. The cyclohexylidene-bridged bisphenol can be the reaction product of two moles of o-cresol with one mole of cyclohexanone. In another example, the cyclohexylidene-bridged bisphenol may be the reaction product of two moles of a cresol with one mole of a hydrogenated isophorone (e.g., 1,1,3-trimethyl-3-cyclohexane-5-one). Such cyclohexane-containing bisphenols, for example the reaction product of two moles of a phenol with one mole of a hydrogenated isophorone, are useful for making polycarbonate polymers with high glass transition temperatures and high heat distortion temperatures. Cyclohexyl bisphenol-containing polycarbonates, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing with other bisphenol polycarbonates, are supplied by Bayer Co. under the APEC® trade name.

The dihydroxy compound of formula (17) can have formula (18), which may be useful for high heat applications:

(also known as 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)cyclohexane (DMBPC)).

The dihydroxy compound of formula (17) can have formula (19), which may be useful for high heat applications:

(also known as bisphenol isophorone).

The dihydroxy compound of formula (17) can have formula (20), which may be useful for high heat applications:

The polycarbonate may include repeating units of formula (21):

wherein R^(r), R^(p), R^(q) and R^(t) are each independently hydrogen, halogen, oxygen, or a C₁-C₁₂ organic group; R^(a) and R^(b) are each independently halogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy; I is a direct bond, a carbon, or a divalent oxygen, sulfur, or —N(Z)— where Z is hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy, C₆-C₁₂ aryl, or C₁-C₁₂ acyl; h is 0 to 2, j is 1 or 2, i is an integer of 0 or 1, k is an integer of 0 to 3, p is an integer of 0 to 4, and q is an integer 0 to 4, with the proviso that at least two of R^(r), R^(p), R^(q) and R^(t) taken together are a fused cycloaliphatic, aromatic, or heteroaromatic ring. It will be understood that where the fused ring is aromatic, the ring as shown in formula (21) will have an unsaturated carbon-carbon linkage where the ring is fused. When i is 0, h is 0, and k is 1, the ring as shown in formula (21) contains 4 carbon atoms; when i is 0, h is 0, and k is 2, the ring as shown contains 5 carbon atoms, and when i is 0, h is 0, and k is 3, the ring contains 6 carbon atoms. In one example, two adjacent groups (e.g., R^(q) and R^(t) taken together) form an aromatic group, and in another embodiment, R^(q) and R^(t) taken together form one aromatic group and R^(r) and R^(p) taken together form a second aromatic group. When R^(q) and R^(t) taken together form an aromatic group, R^(p) can be a double-bonded oxygen atom, i.e., a ketone.

The polycarbonate may include repeating units of formula (23):

wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are each independently halogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy; and p and q are each independently 0 to 4. In certain embodiments, at least one of each of R^(a) and R^(b) are disposed meta to the cycloalkylidene bridging group. In certain embodiments, R^(a) and R^(b) are each independently C₁-C₃ alkyl; and p and q are each 0 or 1. In certain embodiments, R^(a) and R^(b) are each methyl; and p and q are each 0 or 1.

The repeating structural units of formula (23) may be derived from a dihydroxy monomer unit of formula (24):

wherein R^(a), R^(b), p, and q are as defined above. Such dihydroxy compounds that might impart high Tgs to the polycarbonate as a copolycarbonate are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,244,804, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.

The polycarbonate may include repeating units of formula (26):

wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are each independently halogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy; and p and q are each independently 0 to 4. In certain embodiments, at least one of each of R^(a) and R^(b) are disposed meta to the cycloalkylidene bridging group. In certain embodiments, R^(a) and R^(b) are each independently C₁-C₃ alkyl; and p and q are each 0 or 1. In certain embodiments, R^(a) and R^(b) are each methyl; and p and q are each 0 or 1.

The dihydroxy compound of formula (27) can have formula (28), which may be useful for high heat applications:

(also known as 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)adamantane).

A dihydroxy compound of formula (29) may be useful for high heat applications:

(also known as 4,4′-(1-phenylethane-1,1-diyl)diphenol (bisphenol-AP) or 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-ethane).

A dihydroxy compound of formula (30) may be useful for high heat applications:

(also known as 6,6′-dihydroxy-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylspiro(bis)indane).

Exemplary monomers for inclusion in the polycarbonate include, but are not limited to, 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetonitrile, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenylmethane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-naphthylethane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-phenylethane, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylene, 1,1-dibromo-2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylene, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(5-phenoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylene, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-t-butylphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (“bisphenol-A” or “BPA”), 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-2-methylphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(3-ethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(3-n-propyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(3-isopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(3-sec-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(3-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(3-cyclohexyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(3-allyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3-bromophenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)n-butane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)butane, 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)isobutene, trans-2,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butene, 1,6-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,6-hexanedione, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)octane, 1,1-bis(hydroxyphenyl)cyclopentane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)cyclohexane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclododecane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)adamantane, (alpha, alpha′-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)toluene, 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2,7-dihydroxypyrene, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ether, ethylene glycol bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ether, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfide, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfoxide, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfone, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)diphenylmethane, 1,6-dihydroxynaphthalene, 2,6-dihydroxynaphthalene, 6,6′-dihydroxy-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylspiro(bis)indane (“spirobiindane bisphenol”), 2,6-dihydroxydibenzo-p-dioxin, 2,6-dihydroxythianthrene, 2,7-dihydroxyphenoxathin, 2,7-dihydroxy-9,10-dimethylphenazine, 3,6-dihydroxydibenzofuran, 3,6-dihydroxydibenzothiophene, 2,7-dihydroxycarbazole, 2-phenyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phthalimidine (also referred to as 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylisoindolin-1-one or “PPPBP”), 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, and bisphenol isophorone (also referred to as 4,4′-(3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane-1,1-diyl)diphenol or “BPI”), 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)cyclohexane (“DMBPC”), tricyclopentadienyl bisphenol (also referred to as 4,4′-(octahydro-1H-4,7-methanoindene-5,5-diyl)diphenol), 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)adamantane (“BCF”), 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-phenyl ethane (“BPAP”), and 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phthalide, or any combination thereof.

Exemplary monomers useful for increasing the Tg of the polycarbonate include, but are not limited to, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)diphenylmethane, 1,6-dihydroxynaphthalene, 2,6-dihydroxynaphthalene, 6,6′-dihydroxy-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylspiro(bis)indane (“spirobiindane bisphenol”), 2,6-dihydroxydibenzo-p-dioxin, 2,6-dihydroxythianthrene, 2,7-dihydroxyphenoxathin, 2,7-dihydroxy-9,10-dimethylphenazine, 3,6-dihydroxydibenzofuran, 3,6-dihydroxydibenzothiophene, 2,7-dihydroxycarbazole, 2-phenyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phthalimidine (also referred to as 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylisoindolin-1-one or “PPPBP”), 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, and bisphenol isophorone (also referred to as 4,4′-(3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane-1,1-diyl)diphenol or “BPI”), 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)cyclohexane (“DMBPC”), tricyclopentadienyl bisphenol (also referred to as 4,4′-(octahydro-1H-4,7-methanoindene-5,5-diyl)diphenol), 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)adamantane (“BCF”), 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-phenyl ethane (“BPAP”), and 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phthalide, or any combination thereof.

Other dihydroxy monomer units that may be used include aromatic dihydroxy compounds of formula (31):

wherein each R^(h) is independently a halogen atom, a C₁-C₁₀ hydrocarbyl such as a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, or a halogen substituted C₁-C₁₀ hydrocarbyl such as a halogen-substituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, and n is 0 to 4. The halogen, when present, is usually bromine.

Examples of aromatic dihydroxy compounds represented by formula (31) include, but are not limited to, resorcinol, substituted resorcinol compounds (e.g., 5-methyl resorcinol, 5-ethyl resorcinol, 5-propyl resorcinol, 5-butyl resorcinol, 5-t-butyl resorcinol, 5-phenyl resorcinol, 5-cumyl resorcinol, 2,4,5,6-tetrafluoro resorcinol, 2,4,5,6-tetrabromo resorcinol), catechol, hydroquinone, substituted hydroquinones (e.g., 2-methyl hydroquinone, 2-ethyl hydroquinone, 2-propyl hydroquinone, 2-butyl hydroquinone, 2-t-butyl hydroquinone, 2-phenyl hydroquinone, 2-cumyl hydroquinone, 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl hydroquinone, 2,3,5,6-tetra-t-butyl hydroquinone, 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro hydroquinone, 2,3,5,6-tetrabromo hydroquinone, and the like, as well as combinations thereof.

The compositions may include one or more polycarbonate polysiloxane copolymers. The polycarbonate structural unit of the polycarbonate-polysiloxane copolymer may be derived the monomers of formula (2), formula (4), or formula (8), as described above. The diorganosiloxane (referred to herein as “siloxane”) units can be random or present as blocks in the copolymer.

The polysiloxane blocks comprise repeating siloxane units of formula (32):

wherein each R is independently a C₁-C₁₃ monovalent organic group. For example, R can be a C₁-C₁₃ alkyl, C₁-C₁₃ alkoxy, C₂-C₁₃ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₃ alkenyloxy, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkoxy, C₆-C₁₄ aryl, C₆-C₁₀ aryloxy, C₇-C₁₃ arylalkyl, C₇-C₁₃ aralkoxy, C₇-C₁₃ alkylaryl, or C₇-C₁₃ alkylaryloxy. The foregoing groups can be fully or partially halogenated with fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine, or a combination thereof. Where a transparent poly(carbonate-siloxane) is desired, R is unsubstituted by halogen. Combinations of the foregoing R groups can be used in the same copolymer.

The value of E in formula (32) can vary widely depending on the type and relative amount of each component in the composition, the desired properties of the composition, and like considerations. Generally, E has an average value of 2 to 1,000, specifically 2 to 500, 2 to 200, or 2 to 125, 5 to 80, or 10 to 70. E may have an average value of 10 to 80, 10 to 40, 40 to 80, or 40 to 70. Where E is of a lower value (e.g., less than 40), it can be desirable to use a relatively larger amount of the poly(carbonate-siloxane). Conversely, where E is of a higher value (e.g., greater than 40), a relatively lower amount of the poly(carbonate-siloxane) can be used. A combination of a first and a second (or more) poly(carbonate-siloxane) can be used, wherein the average value of E of the first copolymer is less than the average value of E of the second copolymer.

The polysiloxane blocks may be provided by repeating structural units of formula (33):

wherein E and R are as defined in formula (32), and each Ar is independently a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₃₀ arylene wherein the bonds are directly connected to an aromatic moiety. The Ar groups in formula (33) can be derived from a C₆-C₃₀ dihydroxyarylene compound, for example a dihydroxyarylene compound of formula (2), (4), or (8) above. Specific dihydroxyarylene compounds are 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) methane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) ethane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) butane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) octane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) n-butane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-1-methylphenyl) propane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) cyclohexane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl sulfide), and 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-t-butylphenyl) propane. Combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing dihydroxyarylene compounds can also be used.

Polycarbonates comprising units of formula (33) can be derived from the corresponding dihydroxy compound of formula (34):

wherein Ar, R, and E are as described above. Compounds of formula (34) can be obtained by the reaction of a dihydroxyaromatic compound with, for example, an alpha, omega-bis-acetoxy-polydiorganosiloxane oligomer under phase transfer conditions. Compounds of formula (34) can also be obtained from the condensation product of a dihydroxyaromatic compound, with, for example, an alpha, omega bis-chloro-polydimethylsiloxane oligomer in the presence of an acid scavenger.

In a specific embodiment, where Ar of formula (34) is derived from resorcinol, the dihydroxy aromatic compound has formula (35):

or, wherein Ar is derived from bisphenol-A, and the dihydroxy aromatic compound has formula (36):

wherein E has an average value of between 20 and 75.

The polydiorganosiloxane blocks may have formula (37):

wherein R and E are as described in formula (32), and each R⁵ is independently a divalent C₁-C₃₀ organic group such as a C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, C₁-C₃₀ aryl, or C₁-C₃₀ alkylaryl.

The polysiloxane blocks of formula (37) may be derived from the corresponding dihydroxy compound of formula (38):

wherein R and E and R⁵ are as described for formula (37).

In a specific embodiment, the polysiloxane blocks are of formula (39):

wherein R and E are as defined in formula (32), R⁶ is a divalent C₂-C₈ aliphatic group, each M is independently a halogen, cyano, nitro, C₁-C₈ alkylthio, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyloxy, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkoxy, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, C₆-C₁₀ aryloxy, C₇-C₁₂ aralkyl, C₇-C₁₂ aralkoxy, C₇-C₁₂ alkylaryl, or C₇-C₁₂ alkylaryloxy, and each n is independently 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. In an embodiment, M is bromo or chloro, an alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, or propyl, an alkoxy such as methoxy, ethoxy, or propoxy, or an aryl such as phenyl, chlorophenyl, or tolyl; R⁶ is a dimethylene, trimethylene or tetramethylene; and R is a C₁₋₈ alkyl, haloalkyl such as trifluoropropyl, cyanoalkyl, or aryl such as phenyl, chlorophenyl or tolyl. In another embodiment, R is methyl, or a combination of methyl and trifluoropropyl, or a combination of methyl and phenyl. In still another embodiment, each R is methyl, each R⁶ is a divalent C₁-C₃ aliphatic group, each M is methoxy, and each n is one.

Specific polysiloxane blocks are of formulas (39a)-(39c):

or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing can be used, wherein E has an average value of 2 to 200, 2 to 125, 5 to 125, 5 to 100, 5 to 50, 20 to 80, or 5 to 20. In a preferred embodiment, the polysiloxane blocks are of the formula (39a).

Polysiloxane blocks of formula (39) can be derived from the corresponding dihydroxy polysiloxane of formula (38):

wherein each of R, E, M, R⁶, and n are as described for formula (39). Such dihydroxy polysiloxanes can be made by affecting a platinum-catalyzed addition between a siloxane hydride and an aliphatically unsaturated monohydric phenol. The polysiloxane hydride may have formula (41):

wherein R and E are as previously for formula (39). Exemplary aliphatically unsaturated monohydric phenols include, for example, eugenol, 2-alkylphenol, 4-allyl-2-methylphenol, 4-allyl-2-phenylphenol, 4-allyl-2-bromophenol, 4-allyl-2-t-butoxyphenol, 4-phenyl-2-phenylphenol, 2-methyl-4-propylphenol, 2-allyl-4,6-dimethylphenol, 2-allyl-4-bromo-6-methylphenol, 2-allyl-6-methoxy-4-methylphenol and 2-allyl-4,6-dimethylphenol. The poly(carbonate-siloxane)s can then be manufactured, for example, by the synthetic procedure of European Patent Application Publication No. 0 524 731 A1 of Hoover, page 5, Preparation 2.

Still other polysiloxane blocks are of formula (42):

wherein R, E, R⁶, M, and n are as defined in formula (39), and G is a linking group, for example a group of the formula —C(═O)Ar¹C(═O)— wherein Ar¹ is a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₃₀ arylene, for example phenylene; a group of the formula —C(═O)NHAr²NHC(═O)— wherein Ar² is a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₃₀ arylene or a group of the formula —Ar^(2a)X^(a)Ar^(2a)— wherein each Ar^(2a) is independently a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₂ arylene and X^(a) is a single bond, —O—, —S—, —S(O)—, —S(O)₂—, —C(O)—, or a C₁-C₁₈ organic group bridging group connecting the two arylene groups, for example, a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₂₅ alkylidene of the formula —C(R^(c))(R^(d)) wherein R^(c) and R^(d) are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, C₇-C₁₂ arylalkyl, for example methylene, where the bridging group and the hydroxy substituent of each C₆ arylene group are disposed ortho, meta, or para (specifically para) to each other on the C₆ arylene group; or a group of the formula —P(═O)Ar³— wherein Ar³ is a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₃₀ arylene, for example phenylene.

Transparent poly(carbonate-siloxane)s may comprise carbonate units of formula (1) derived from bisphenol A, and polysiloxane units as described above, in particular polysiloxane units of formulas (39a), (39b), (39c), or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing (specifically of formula 39a), wherein E has an average value of 4 to 50, 4 to 15, specifically 5 to 15, more specifically 6 to 15, and still more specifically 7 to 10. The transparent copolymers can comprise the siloxane units in an amount of 0.1 to 60 weight percent (wt %), 0.5 to 55 wt %, 0.5 to 45 wt %, 0.5 to 30 wt %, or 0.5 to 20 wt %, based on the total weight of the polycarbonate copolymer, with the proviso that the siloxane units are covalently bound to the polymer backbone of the polycarbonate copolymer. The transparent copolymers can be manufactured using one or both of the tube reactor processes described in U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0039145A1 or the process described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,723,864 can be used to synthesize the poly(siloxane-carbonate)s.

The poly(carbonate-siloxane) can comprise 50 to 99 weight percent of carbonate units and 1 to 50 weight percent siloxane units. Within this range, the poly(carbonate-siloxane) can comprise 70 to 98 weight percent, more specifically 75 to 97 weight percent of carbonate units and 2 to 30 weight percent, more specifically 3 to 25 weight percent siloxane units.

In an embodiment, a blend is used, in particular a blend of a bisphenol A homopolycarbonate and a poly(carbonate-siloxane) block copolymer of bisphenol A blocks and eugenol capped polydimethylsilioxane blocks, of the formula (43):

wherein x is 1 to 200, specifically 5 to 85, specifically 10 to 70, specifically 15 to 65, and more specifically 40 to 60; y is 1 to 500, or 10 to 200, and z is 1 to 1000, or 10 to 800. In an embodiment, x is 1 to 200, y is 1 to 90 and z is 1 to 600, and in another embodiment, x is 30 to 50, y is 10 to 30 and z is 45 to 600. The polysiloxane blocks may be randomly distributed or controlled distributed among the polycarbonate blocks.

In an embodiment, the poly(carbonate-siloxane) comprises 10 wt % or less, specifically 6 wt % or less, and more specifically 4 wt % or less, of the polysiloxane based on the total weight of the poly(carbonate-siloxane), and are generally optically transparent and are commercially available from SABIC Innovative Plastics. In another embodiment, the poly(carbonate-siloxane) comprises 10 wt % or more, specifically 12 wt % or more, and more specifically 14 wt % or more, of the poly(carbonate-siloxane), based on the total weight of the poly(carbonate-siloxane), are generally optically opaque and are commercially available from SABIC Innovative Plastics.

Poly(carbonate-siloxane) can have a Mw of 2,000 to 100,000 Daltons, specifically 5,000 to 50,000 Daltons as measured by gel permeation chromatography using a crosslinked styrene-divinyl benzene column, at a sample concentration of 1 milligram per milliliter, and as calibrated with polycarbonate standards.

The poly(carbonate-siloxane) can have a melt volume flow rate, measured at 300° C./1.2 kg, of 1 to 50 cubic centimeters per 10 minutes (cc/10 min), specifically 2 to 30 cc/10 min. Mixtures of poly(carbonate-siloxane)s of different flow properties can be used to achieve the overall desired flow property.

The compositions may include one or more polyester-polycarbonate copolymers. The polyester-polycarbonate may comprise repeating ester units of formula (44):

wherein O-D-O of formula (44) is a divalent group derived from a dihydroxy compound, and D may be, for example, one or more alkyl containing C₆-C₂₀ aromatic group(s), or one or more C₆-C₂₀ aromatic group(s), a C₂-C₁₀ alkylene group, a C₆-C₂₀ alicyclic group, a C₆-C₂₀ aromatic group or a polyoxyalkylene group in which the alkylene groups contain 2 to 6 carbon atoms, specifically 2, 3, or 4 carbon atoms. D may be a C₂-C₃₀ alkylene group having a straight chain, branched chain, or cyclic (including polycyclic) structure. O-D-O may be derived from a compound of formula (2), as described above. O-D-O may be derived from an aromatic dihydroxy compound of formula (4), as described above. O-D-O may be derived from an aromatic dihydroxy compound of formula (8), as described above.

The molar ratio of ester units to carbonate units in the polyester-polycarbonates may vary broadly, for example 1:99 to 99:1, specifically 10:90 to 90:10, more specifically 25:75 to 75:25, optionally expanded depending on the desired properties of the final composition.

T of formula (44) may be a divalent group derived from a dicarboxylic acid, and may be, for example, a C₂-C₁₀ alkylene group, a C₆-C₂₀ alicyclic group, a C₆-C₂₀ alkyl aromatic group, a C₆-C₂₀ aromatic group, or a C₆-C₃₆ divalent organic group derived from a dihydroxy compound or chemical equivalent thereof. T may be an aliphatic group, wherein the molar ratio of carbonate units to ester units of formula (44) in the poly(aliphatic ester)-polycarbonate copolymer is from 99:1 to 60:40; and 0.01 to 10 weight percent, based on the total weight of the polymer component, of a polymeric containing compound. T may be derived from a C₆-C₂₀ linear aliphatic alpha-omega (α-ω) dicarboxylic ester.

Diacids from which the T group in the ester unit of formula (44) is derived include aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having from 6 to 36 carbon atoms, optionally from 6 to 20 carbon atoms. The C₆-C₂₀ linear aliphatic alpha-omega (α-ω) dicarboxylic acids may be adipic acid, sebacic acid, 3,3-dimethyl adipic acid, 3,3,6-trimethyl sebacic acid, 3,3,5,5-tetramethyl sebacic acid, azelaic acid, dodecanedioic acid, dimer acids, cyclohexane dicarboxylic acids, dimethyl cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, norbornane dicarboxylic acids, adamantane dicarboxylic acids, cyclohexene dicarboxylic acids, or C₁₄, C₁₈ and C₂₀ diacids.

The ester units of the polyester-polycarbonates of formula (44) can be further described by formula (45), wherein T is (CH₂)_(m), where m is 4 to 40.

Saturated aliphatic alpha-omega dicarboxylic acids may be adipic acid, sebacic or dodecanedioic acid. Sebacic acid is a dicarboxylic acid having the following formula (46):

Sebacic acid has a molecular mass of 202.25 Daltons, a density of 1.209 g/cm³ (25° C.), and a melting point of 294.4° C. at 100 mmHg. Sebacic acid is extracted from castor bean oil found in naturally occurring castor beans.

Other examples of aromatic dicarboxylic acids that may be used to prepare the polyester units include isophthalic, terephthalic acid, 1,2-di(p-carboxyphenyl)ethane, 4,4′-dicarboxydiphenyl ether, 4,4′-bisbenzoic acid, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing acids. Acids containing fused rings can also be present, such as in 1,4-, 1,5-, or 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acids. Specific dicarboxylic acids may be terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, or combinations thereof. A specific dicarboxylic acid comprises a combination of isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid wherein the weight ratio of isophthalic acid to terephthalic acid is 91:9 to 2:98.

D of the repeating units of formula (44) may also be a C₂-C₆ alkylene group and T may be p-phenylene, m-phenylene, naphthalene, a divalent cycloaliphatic group, or a combination thereof. This class of polyester includes the poly(alkylene terephthalates).

Mixtures of the diacids can also be employed. It should be noted that although referred to as diacids, any ester precursor could be employed such as acid halides, specifically acid chlorides, and diaromatic esters of the diacid such as diphenyl, for example the diphenyl ester of sebacic acid. With reference to the diacid carbon atom number earlier mentioned, this does not include any carbon atoms which may be included in the ester precursor portion, for example diphenyl. It may be desirable that at least four, five or six carbon bonds separate the acid groups. This may reduce the formation of undesirable and unwanted cyclic species.

The polyester unit of a polyester-polycarbonate may be derived from the reaction of a combination of isophthalic and terephthalic diacids (or derivatives thereof) with resorcinol. In another embodiment, the polyester unit of a polyester-polycarbonate may be derived from the reaction of a combination of isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid with bisphenol-A. In an embodiment, the polycarbonate units may be derived from bisphenol-A. In another specific embodiment, the polycarbonate units may be derived from resorcinol and bisphenol-A in a molar ratio of resorcinol carbonate units to bisphenol-A carbonate units of 1:99 to 99:1.

In certain embodiments, the polyester-polycarbonate is a copolymer of formula (47):

wherein the polyester-polycarbonate includes bisphenol A carbonate blocks, and polyester blocks made of a copolymer of bisphenol A with isothalate, terephthalate or a combination of isophthalate and terephthalate. Further in the polyester-polycarbonate (47), x and y represent the respective parts by weight of the aromatic carbonate units and the aromatic ester units based on 100 parts total weight of the copolymer. Specifically, x, the carbonate content, is from more than zero to 80 wt %, from 5 to 70 wt %, still more specifically from 5 to 50 wt %, and y, the aromatic ester content, is 20 to less than 100 wt %, specifically 30 to 95 wt %, still more specifically 50 to 95 wt %, each based on the total weight of units x+y. The weight ratio of terephthalic acid to isophthalic acid can be in the range of from 5:95 to 95:5. Polyester-polycarbonate (47) comprising 35 to 45 wt % of carbonate units and 55 to 65 wt % of ester units, wherein the ester units have a molar ratio of isophthalate to terephthalate of 45:55 to 55:45 can be referred to as PCE; and copolymers comprising 15 to 25 wt % of carbonate units and 75 to 85 wt % of ester units having a molar ratio of isophthalate to terephthalate from 98:2 to 88:12 can be referred to as PPC. In these embodiments the PCE or PPC can be derived from reaction of bisphenol-A and phosgene with iso- and terephthaloyl chloride, and can have an intrinsic viscosity of 0.5 to 0.65 deciliters per gram (measured in methylene chloride at a temperature of 25° C.).

Useful polyesters may include aromatic polyesters, poly(alkylene esters) including poly(alkylene arylates), and poly(cycloalkylene diesters). Aromatic polyesters may have a polyester structure according to formula (44), wherein D and T are each aromatic groups as described hereinabove. Useful aromatic polyesters may include, for example, poly(isophthalate-terephthalate-resorcinol) esters, poly(isophthalate-terephthalate-bisphenol-A) esters, poly[(isophthalate-terephthalate-resorcinol) ester-co-(isophthalate-terephthalate-bisphenol-A)] ester, or a combination comprising at least one of these.

End capping agents can be incorporated into the polycarbonates. Exemplary chain-stoppers include certain monophenolic compounds (i.e., phenyl compounds having a single free hydroxy group), monocarboxylic acid chlorides, monocarboxylic acids, and/or monochloroformates. Phenolic chain-stoppers are exemplified by phenol and C₁-C₂₂ alkyl-substituted phenols such as p-cumyl-phenol, resorcinol monobenzoate, and p-tertiary-butylphenol, cresol, and monoethers of diphenols, such as p-methoxyphenol. Exemplary chain-stoppers also include cyanophenols, such as for example, 4-cyanophenol, 3-cyanophenol, 2-cyanophenol, and polycyanophenols. Alkyl-substituted phenols with branched chain alkyl substituents having 8 to 9 carbon atoms can be specifically be used.

The polycarbonates may include branching groups, provided that such branching does not significantly adversely affect desired properties of the polycarbonate. Branched polycarbonate blocks can be prepared by adding a branching agent during polymerization. These branching agents include polyfunctional organic compounds containing at least three functional groups selected from hydroxyl, carboxyl, carboxylic anhydride, haloformyl, and mixtures of the foregoing functional groups. Specific examples include trimellitic acid, trimellitic anhydride, trimellitic trichloride, tris-p-hydroxy phenyl ethane, isatin-bis-phenol, tris-phenol TC (1,3,5-tris((p-hydroxyphenyl)isopropyl)benzene), tris-phenol PA (4(4(1,1-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl)alpha, alpha-dimethyl benzyl)phenol), 4-chloroformyl phthalic anhydride, trimesic acid, and benzophenone tetracarboxylic acid. The branching agents can be added at a level of 0.05 to 6.0 wt %. Mixtures comprising linear polycarbonates and branched polycarbonates can be used.

The polycarbonates (e.g., homopolycarbonates, copolycarbonates, polycarbonate polysiloxane copolymers, polyester-polycarbonates, isosorbide-containing polycarbonates) may be manufactured by processes such as interfacial polymerization and melt polymerization. High Tg copolycarbonates are generally manufactured using interfacial polymerization.

Polycarbonates produced by interfacial polymerization may have an aryl hydroxy end-group content of 150 ppm or less, 100 ppm or less, or 50 ppm or less. Polycarbonates produced by melt polymerization may have an aryl hydroxy end-group content of greater than or equal to 350 ppm, greater than or equal to 400 ppm, greater than or equal to 450 ppm, greater than or equal to 500 ppm, greater than or equal to 550 ppm, greater than or equal to 600 ppm, greater than or equal to 650 ppm, greater than or equal to 700 ppm, greater than or equal to 750 ppm, greater than or equal to 800 ppm, or greater than or equal to 850 ppm.

The compositions may include one or more polyesters. The polyesters may be homopolymers or copolyesters. The polyesters may be semi-crystalline materials. The polyesters may be linear or branched thermoplastic polyesters having repeating structural units of Formula (55),

wherein each T is independently a divalent aliphatic radical, a divalent alicyclic radical, a divalent aromatic radical, or a polyoxyalkylene radical, or a combination thereof; each D is independently a divalent aliphatic radical, a divalent alicyclic radical, a divalent aromatic radical, or a combination thereof; and m is an integer selected from 25 to 1000. In certain embodiments, the T and D radicals, at each occurrence, are each independently selected from a C₂-C₁₂ alkylene radical, a C₆-C₁₂ alicyclic radical, a C₆-C₂₀ aromatic radical, and a polyoxyalkylene radical in which the alkylene groups of the polyoxyalkylene contain 2-6 and most often 2 or 4 carbon atoms. In certain embodiments, T at each occurrence is independently selected from phenyl and naphthyl, and D at each occurrence is independently selected from ethylene, propylene, butylene, and dimethylene cyclohexene. The polyesters may have any end group configuration. The end groups may be, for example, hydroxy, carboxylic acid, or ester end groups. In some instances, the polyester may have a carboxylic acid (COOH) end group content of from 15 to 40 meq/Kg.

The polyesters can have an intrinsic viscosity, as determined in chloroform at 25° C., of 0.05 to 1.5 deciliters per gram (dl/gm), specifically 0.3 to 1.5 dl/gm, and more specifically 0.45 to 1.2 dl/gm. The polyesters can have a Mw of 10,000 to 200,000, specifically 20,000 to 100,000 as measured by GPC.

In certain embodiments, the polyesters may be post-consumer (recycled) polyesters, such as recycled PET or similar recycled resins. Such recycled resins are commercially available from a variety of sources such as bottles (e.g., post-consumer PET bottles with a diethylene glycol (DEG) content of 0.5 to 2.5 mole percent and 10 to 500 ppm of a metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Sb, Sn, Zn, Ge, Zr, Co or mixtures thereof), films, and fibers.

In certain embodiments, the polyester may have repeating units of formula (56):

wherein n at each occurrence is independently selected from 1 to 10. In certain embodiments, the phenylene ring is derived from isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, or a combination thereof.

Exemplary polyesters include, but are not limited to, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (“PET”); poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate) (“PBT”); poly (ethylene naphthanoate) (“PEN”); poly(butylene naphthanoate) (“PBN”); poly(propylene terephthalate) (“PPT”); poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene) terephthalate (“PCT”); poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene 1,4-cyclohexandicarboxylate) (“PCCD”); poly(cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) glycol (“PCTG”); poly(ethylene terephthalate) glycol (“PETG”); and poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate-co-isophthalate) (“PCTA”). In certain embodiments, the polyester may be a semi-crystalline material based on polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers.

In certain embodiments, the polyester is poly(ethylene terephthalate) (“PET”). The PET may have an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of greater than or equal to 0.55 dl/g. The PET may have an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of greater than or equal to 0.75 dl/g. The PET may have an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of 0.535 dl/g, and a carboxylic acid (COOH) end group content of 20 meq/Kg COOH. The PET resin may have a diethylene glycol (DEG) content of 0.8%. The PET may include repeating units of formula (57):

In certain embodiments, the polyester is poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate) (“PBT”). The PBT may have an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of 1.1 dl/g, and a carboxylic acid (COOH) end group content of 38 meq/Kg COOH, and may be referred to herein as PBT 315, which is sold under the tradename VALOX 315 from SABIC Innovative Plastics. PBT 315 may have a Mw of 115,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], measured using polystyrene standards. The PBT may have an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of 0.66 dl/g, and a carboxylic acid (COOH) end group content of 17 meq/Kg COOH, and may be referred to herein as PBT 195, which is sold under the tradename VALOX 195 from SABIC Innovative Plastics. The PBT 195 may have a Mw of 66,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], measured using polystyrene standards. The PBT may include repeating units of formula (58):

In certain embodiments, the polyester is poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene 1,4-cyclohexandicarboxylate) (“PCCD”), also referred to as poly(1,4-cyclohexane-dimethanol-1,4-dicarboxylate). The PCCD may have a Mw of 41,000 to 60,000 and a refractive index of 1.506 to 1.508. The PCCD may have a Mw of 80,000 g/mol. The PCCD may have repeating units of formula (59):

In certain embodiments, the polyester is poly(cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) glycol (“PCTG”), or poly(ethylene terephthalate) glycol (“PETG”), both of which may be referred to as poly(ethylene terephthalate)-co-(1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate). PCTG and PETG are copolyesters derived from terephthalic acid and the diols of ethylene glycol and cyclohexanedimethanol. PCTG and PETG copolyesters may have the formula (60):

The diol content of PCTG may be greater than 50 mol % cyclohexanedimethanol; and the diol content of PETG may be less than 50 mol % cyclohexanedimethanol. In certain embodiments, PCTG may have 80 mol % cyclohexanedimethanol diol content and 20 mol % ethylene glycol diol content. The PCTG may have a Mw of 70,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], measured using polystyrene standards. The PETG may have a Mw of 70,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], measured using polystyrene standards.

In certain embodiments, the polyester is poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate-co-isophthalate) (“PCTA”). PCTA copolyesters may have the formula (61):

Dicarboxylic acids (e.g., aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, alicyclic dicarboxylic acids, aromatic dicarboxylic acids, and combinations thereof) and diols (e.g., aliphatic diols, alicyclic diols, aromatic diols, and combinations thereof) can be used to prepare the polyesters. Chemical equivalents of dicarboxylic acids (e.g., anhydrides, acid chlorides, acid bromides, carboxylate salts, or esters) and chemical equivalents of diols (e.g., esters, specifically C₁-C₈ esters such as acetate esters) may also be used to prepare the polyesters.

Aromatic dicarboxylic acids that can be used to prepare the polyesters include, but are not limited to, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, 1,2-di(p-carboxyphenyl)ethane, 4,4′-dicarboxydiphenyl ether, 4,4′-bisbenzoic acid, and the like, and 1,4- or 1,5-naphthalene dicarboxylic acids and the like. A combination of isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid can be used. The weight ratio of isophthalic acid to terephthalic acid may be, for example, 91:9 to 2:98, or 25:75 to 2:98. Dicarboxylic acids containing fused rings that can be used to prepare the polyesters include, but are not limited to, 1,4-, 1,5-, and 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acids. Exemplary cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acids include, but are not limited to, decahydronaphthalene dicarboxylic acids, norbornene dicarboxylic acids, bicyclooctane dicarboxylic acids, and 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acids.

Aliphatic diols that can be used to prepare the polyesters include, but are not limited to, 1,2-ethylene glycol, 1,2- and 1,3-propylene glycol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propane diol, 2-ethyl-2-methyl-1,3-propane diol, 1,3- and 1,5-pentane diol, dipropylene glycol, 2-methyl-1,5-pentane diol, 1,6-hexane diol, dimethanol decalin, dimethanol bicyclooctane, 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol and its cis- and trans-isomers, triethylene glycol, 1,10-decane diol, and the like, and combinations thereof. The diol may be ethylene and/or 1,4-butylene diol. The diol may be 1,4-butylene diol. The diol may be ethylene glycol with small amounts (e.g., 0.5 to 5.0 percent) of diethylene glycol. Aromatic diols that can be used to prepare the polyesters include, but are not limited to, resorcinol, hydroquinone, pyrocatechol, 1,5-naphthalene diol, 2,6-naphthalene diol, 1,4-naphthalene diol, 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ether, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfone, and the like, and combinations thereof.

The polyesters can be obtained by interfacial polymerization or melt-process condensation, by solution phase condensation, or by transesterification polymerization wherein, for example, a dialkyl ester such as dimethyl terephthalate can be transesterified with ethylene glycol using acid catalysis, to generate poly(ethylene terephthalate). It is possible to use a branched polyester in which a branching agent, for example, a glycol having three or more hydroxyl groups or a trifunctional or multifunctional carboxylic acid has been incorporated. Furthermore, it is sometimes desirable to have various concentrations of acid and hydroxyl end groups on the polyester, depending on the ultimate end use of the composition.

The compositions may include one or more hydroxyl-functionalized flow promoters.

The flow promoter may be an alkylene glycol. Suitable alkylene glyclols include, but are not limited to, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and poly(alkylene glycol), such as polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, poly(1,4-butylene) glycol, block or random poly (ethylene glycol)-co-(propylene glycol) copolymers, and combinations thereof.

The poly(alkylene glycol) may have formula (62),

wherein R¹ and R² independently represent —H, —C₁-C₂₂ alkyl, —COC₁-C₂₁ alkyl, unsubstituted —C₆-C₁₄ aryl (e.g., phenyl, naphthyl, and anthracenyl), alkyl-substituted —C₆-C₁₄ aryl, or -tetrahydrofurfuryl; R³, R⁴, and R⁵ each independently represent —H or —CH₃; and j, k, and n each independently represent an integer from 2 to 200.

The poly(alkylene glycol) may have a molecular weight (Mn) of 1,500 to 2,500 g/mol, or 2,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]. The poly(alkylene glycol) can have a number average molecular weight of greater than or equal to 1,000 g/mole, greater than or equal to 1,500 g/mole, greater than or equal to 2,000 g/mole, greater than or equal to 2,500 g/mole, greater than or equal to 3,000 g/mole, greater than or equal to 3,500 g/mole, greater than or equal to 4,000 g/mole, greater than or equal to 4,500 g/mole, greater than or equal to 5,000 g/mole, greater than or equal to 5,500 g/mole, greater than or equal to 6,000 g/mole, greater than or equal to 6,500 g/mole, greater than or equal to 7,000 g/mole, greater than or equal to 7,500 g/mole, greater than or equal to 8,000 g/mole, greater than or equal to 8,500 g/mole, greater than or equal to 9,000 g/mole, greater than or equal to 9,500 g/mole, or greater than or equal to 10,000 g/mole.

The flow promoter may be a polyhydric alcohol compound of formula (63):

wherein R⁵⁰ is NH₂ or CH₂OH; and R⁵² is a C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a C₃-C₂₀ cycloalkyl group, a C₆-C₂₀ aryl group, a C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, or a C₆-C₂₀ aryloxy group, wherein said alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxy, and aryloxy groups are each independently unsubstituted or substituted with one or more hydroxy groups. In certain embodiments, formula (63) includes at least three hydroxymethyl groups, or at least two hydroxymethyl groups and one amino group.

Exemplary compounds of formula (63) include, but are not limited to, 1,1-dimethylol-1-aminoethane (DAE), 1,1-dimethylol-1-aminopropane (DAP), tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (THAM), 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane (TMP), 1,1,1-trimethylolethane, pentaerythritol (PETOL), dipentaerythritol, tripentaerythritol, 1,1,1-trimethylol pentane, or any combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, the hydroxyl-functionalized flow promoter is ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, poly(1,4-butylene) glycol, block or random poly (ethylene glycol)-co-(propylene glycol) copolymer, tri(hydroxymethyl)aminomethan (“THAM”), sorbitol, sucrose, fructose, glucose, glycerol monostearate (“GMS”), glycerol tristearate (“GTS”), or a combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, the hydroxyl-functionalized flow promoter is a hydroxyl-functionalized aromatic compound. The hydroxyl-functionalized aromatic compound can be a mono-aryl (e.g., 1,4-di hydroxybenzene, or 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane), a bis-aryl (e.g., BPA), or a hydroxyl functionalized oligo or poly-aryl moiety.

In certain embodiments, the hydroxyl-functionalized flow promoter is a polycarbonate (e.g., a polycarbonate produced by melt polymerization) having an aryl hydroxy end-group content of greater than or equal to 350 ppm, greater than or equal to 400 ppm, greater than or equal to 450 ppm, greater than or equal to 500 ppm, greater than or equal to 550 ppm, greater than or equal to 600 ppm, greater than or equal to 650 ppm, greater than or equal to 700 ppm, greater than or equal to 750 ppm, greater than or equal to 800 ppm, or greater than or equal to 850 ppm.

In certain embodiments, the hydroxyl-functionalized flow promoter is polyethylene glycol (PEG) having a Mw of 3,350 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; PEG having a Mw of 10,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; PEG having a Mw of 35,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; or polypropylene glycol (PPG) having a Mw of 2,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol].

The hydroxyl-functionalized flow promoters can be present in the compositions in an amount of 0.01 to 2% by weight, and preferably 0.05 to 1% based on total weight of the composition.

The compositions may comprise additional components, such as one or more additives. Suitable additives include, but are not limited to impact modifiers, UV stabilizers, colorants, flame retardants, heat stabilizers, plasticizers, lubricants, mold release agents, fillers, reinforcing agents, antioxidant agents, antistatic agents, blowing agents, anti-drip agents, and radiation stabilizers.

The blend compositions may have a combination of desired properties.

Melt viscosity (MV) of the blend compositions may be determined using ISO 11443 or ASTM D3835. Melt viscosity is a measurement of the rheological characteristics of a composition at temperatures and shear conditions common to processing equipment. A lower value for melt viscosity indicates that the composition flows easier. Melt viscosity may be determined at different temperatures (e.g., 260° C., 280° C., 300° C., 316° C., or 330° C.) and different shear rates (e.g., 1500 or 5000 second⁻¹). Melt viscosities are typically determined by pressing a molten composition through a die while measuring the pressure drop over the complete or part of the die. Melt viscosities may be measured by, for example, a Kayeness Capillary viscometer (e.g., with a capillary length:diameter ratio of 20:1, a capillary diameter of 1.0 millimeter, a capillary entrance angle of 180 degrees, and a dwell time of 4 minutes). Melt viscosity may be reported in Pascal-seconds and the shear rate may be reported in reciprocal seconds. A melt viscosity measured at a shear rate of 5000 s⁻¹ may be referred to as a high shear melt viscosity value.

The blend compositions may have a melt viscosity of 50 MPa to 400 MPa, 50 MPa to 375 MPa, 50 MPa to 350 MPa, 50 MPa to 325 MPa, 50 MPa to 300 MPa, 50 MPa to 275 MPa, 50 MPa to 250 MPa, 50 MPa to 225 MPa, 50 MPa to 200 MPa, 50 MPa to 175 MPa, 50 MPa to 150 MPa, 100 MPa to 375 MPa, 100 MPa to 350 MPa, 100 MPa to 325 MPa, 100 MPa to 300 MPa, 100 MPa to 275 MPa, 100 MPa to 250 MPa, 100 MPa to 225 MPa, or 100 MPa to 200 MPa, measured in accordance with ISO 11443 at 300° C. at a shear rate of 1500 or measured in accordance with ISO 11443 at 316° C. at a shear rate of 5000 s⁻¹.

Melt volume flow rate (often abbreviated MVR) of the blend compositions may be determined using ISO 1133 or ASTM D1238. MVR measures the volume of a composition extruded through an orifice at a prescribed temperature and load over a prescribed time period. The higher the MVR value of a polymer composition at a specific temperature, the greater the flow of that composition at that specific temperature.

MVR may be measured, for example, by packing a small amount of polymer composition into an extruder barrel of an extruder. The composition may be preheated for a specified amount of time at a particular temperature (the test temperature is usually set at or slightly above the melting region of the material being characterized). After preheating the composition, a particular weight (e.g., a 2.16 kg weight) may be introduced to a piston, which acts as the medium that causes extrusion of the molten polymer composition. The weight exerts a force on the piston and thereby the molten polymer composition, and the molten composition flows through the dye wherein the displacement of the molten composition is measured in cubic centimeters per over time such as 10 minutes (cm³/10 min).

The compositions may have a MVR of 2 to 300 cm³/10 min, 2 to 200 cm³/10 min, 2 to 100 cm³/10 min, 10 to 300 cm³/10 min, 20 to 300 cm³/10 min, 30 to 300 cm³/10 min, 40 to 300 cm³/10 min, 50 to 300 cm³/10 min, 60 to 300 cm³/10 min, 70 to 300 cm³/10 min, 80 to 300 cm³/10 min, 90 to 300 cm³/10 min, 100 to 300 cm³/10 min, 50 to 200 cm³/10 min, 75 to 175 cm³/10 min, or 100 to 150 cm³/10 min, using the ISO 1133 method, 2.16 kg load, 330° C. temperature, 360 second dwell.

Melt flow rate (often abbreviated MFR) of the blend compositions may be determined using ISO 1133 or ASTM D1238. MFR measures the mass of a composition extruded through an orifice at a prescribed temperature and load over a prescribed time period. The higher the MFR value of a polymer composition at a specific temperature, the greater the flow of that composition at that specific temperature.

The compositions may have a MFR of 2 to 500 g/10 min, 2 to 300 g/10 min, 2 to 200 g/10 min, 2 to 100 g/10 min, 10 to 500 g/10 min, 20 to 500 g/10 min, 30 to 500 g/10 min, 40 to 500 g/10 min, 50 to 500 g/10 min, 60 to 500 g/10 min, 70 to 500 g/10 min, 80 to 500 g/10 min, 90 to 500 g/10 min, 100 to 500 g/10 min, 50 to 300 g/10 min, 75 to 250 g/10 min, or 100 to 200 g/10 min, using the ISO 1133 method, 2.16 kg load, 330° C. temperature, 360 second dwell.

Glass transition temperature (Tg) of the blended compositions may be determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), for example, with a heating rate of 10° C./minute and using the second heating curve for Tg determination.

The compositions may have glass transition temperatures ranging from 120° C. to 230° C., 140° C. to 185° C., 145° C. to 180° C., 150° C. to 175° C., 155° C. to 170° C., or 160° C. to 165° C. The compositions may have a glass transition temperature of 150° C., 151° C., 152° C., 153° C., 154° C., 155° C., 156° C., 157° C., 158° C., 159° C., 160° C., 161° C., 162° C., 163° C., 164° C., 165° C., 166° C., 167° C., 168° C., 169° C., 170° C., 171° C., 172° C., 173° C., 174° C., or 175° C.

Heat deflection temperature or heat distortion temperature (often abbreviated HDT) of the blended compositions may be determined according to ISO 75 or ASTM D648. HDT is a measure of heat resistance and is an indicator of the ability of a material to withstand deformation from heat over time. A higher HDT value indicates better heat resistance. Measurements may be performed on molded ISO bars (80×10×4 mm) preconditioned at 23° C. and 50% relative humidity for 48 hrs. The heating medium of the HDT equipment may be mineral oil. Measurements may be performed in duplicate and the average value reported.

The compositions may have heat deflection temperatures ranging from 120° C. to 230° C., 140° C. to 185° C., 145° C. to 180° C., 150° C. to 175° C., 155° C. to 170° C., or 160° C. to 165° C., measured at 0.45 MPa stress or 1.8 MPa stress in accordance with ISO 75. The compositions may have a heat deflection temperature of 150° C., 151° C., 152° C., 153° C., 154° C., 155° C., 156° C., 157° C., 158° C., 159° C., 160° C., 161° C., 162° C., 163° C., 164° C., 165° C., 166° C., 167° C., 168° C., 169° C., 170° C., 171° C., 172° C., 173° C., 174° C., or 175° C., measured at 0.45 MPa stress or 1.8 MPa stress in accordance with ISO 75.

Vicat softening temperature may be determined according to ISO 306. Vicat softening temperature is a measure of the temperature at which a thermoplastic material starts to soften rapidly. Measurements may be performed using a heating rate of 120° C./hour and a force of 50 Newtons (method B120). Test specimens of 10×10×4 mm may be cut from molded 80×10×4 mm ISO impact bars. Each test may be performed in duplicate and the average of the two results reported.

The compositions may have Vicat B120 softening temperatures ranging from 120° C. to 230° C., 140° C. to 185° C., 145° C. to 180° C., 150° C. to 175° C., 155° C. to 170° C., or 160° C. to 165° C., measured in accordance with ISO 306. The compositions may have a Vicat B120 softening temperature of 150° C., 151° C., 152° C., 153° C., 154° C., 155° C., 156° C., 157° C., 158° C., 159° C., 160° C., 161° C., 162° C., 163° C., 164° C., 165° C., 166° C., 167° C., 168° C., 169° C., 170° C., 171° C., 172° C., 173° C., 174° C., or 175° C., measured in accordance with ISO 306.

Multiaxial impact testing (MAI) may be performed according to ISO 6603 or ASTM D3763. This procedure provides information on how a material behaves under multiaxial deformation conditions. The multiaxial impact value indicates the amount of energy the material absorbs during the test; a higher value generally indicates a better result. Impact properties that may be reported include Energy to Maximum Load, Energy to Failure, and Average Total Energy, all expressed in units of Joules. Ductility of tested parts may be expressed in percent (% D) based on whether the part fractured in a brittle or ductile manner.

Multiaxial impact may be measured using injection molded plaques (e.g., disks 3.2 mm thick and 10 centimeters in diameter). The plaques may be prepared using standard molding conditions or abusive molding conditions. Standard molding conditions may refer to a barrel temperature of 580° F. and a residence time of 35 seconds. Abusive molding conditions may refer to a barrel temperature of 580-620° F. and a residence time of 120 seconds. Abusive molding conditions may refer to conditions where the composition dwells in the molder barrel for an extended period of time and/or under elevated molding temperatures that may cause thermal degradation of one or more polymers in the composition. An apparatus, such as a Dynatup, may be used to evaluate multiaxial impact, and may have a tup of 10 mm, 12.5 mm, or 20 mm. The impact velocity may be 4.4 m/s. Measurements may be conducted at various temperatures (e.g., 23° C., 0° C., −30° C.).

The blend compositions may have an Energy to Maximum Load of 10 J to 250 J, 50 J to 200 J, or 100 J to 150 J, at 23° C., 0° C., or −30° C., molded under standard molding conditions.

The blend compositions may have an Energy to Maximum Load of 10 J to 250 J, 50 J to 200 J, or 100 J to 150 J, at 23° C., 0° C., or −30° C., molded under abusive molding conditions.

The blend compositions may have an Energy to Failure of 10 J to 250 J, 50 J to 200 J, or 100 J to 150 J, at 23° C., 0° C., or −30° C., molded under standard molding conditions.

The blend compositions may have an Energy to Failure of 10 J to 250 J, 50 J to 200 J, or 100 J to 150 J, at 23° C., 0° C., or −30° C., molded under abusive molding conditions.

The blend compositions may have an Average Total Energy of 10 J to 250 J, 50 J to 200 J, or 100 J to 150 J, at 23° C., 0° C., or −30° C., molded under standard molding conditions.

The blend compositions may have an Average Total Energy of 10 J to 250 J, 50 J to 200 J, or 100 J to 150 J, at 23° C., 0° C., or −30° C., molded under abusive molding conditions.

The blend compositions may possess a ductility of greater than or equal to 50%, greater than or equal to 55%, greater than or equal to 60%, greater than or equal to 65%, greater than or equal to 70%, greater than or equal to 75%, greater than or equal to 80%, greater than or equal to 85%, greater than or equal to 90%, greater than or equal to 95%, or 100% in a notched izod impact test at −20° C., −15° C., −10° C., 0° C., 5° C., 10° C., 15° C., 20° C., 23° C., 25° C., 30° C., or 35° C. at a thickness of 3.2 mm according to ASTM D3763.

The blend compositions may have a notched izod impact (NII). A higher NII value indicates better impact strength. The polycarbonate compositions may have a notched izod impact strength (NII) of greater than or equal to 5 kJ/m², greater than or equal to 10 kJ/m², greater than or equal to 15 kJ/m², greater than or equal to 20 kJ/m², greater than or equal to 25 kJ/m², greater than or equal to 30 kJ/m², greater than or equal to 35 kJ/m², greater than or equal to 40 kJ/m², greater than or equal to 45 kJ/m², greater than or equal to 50 kJ/m², greater than or equal to 55 kJ/m², or greater than or equal to 60 kJ/m², measured at 23° C., 0° C., or −30° C. according to ISO 180.

Metallization may be performed on molded parts (e.g., 1.5 mm or 3 mm thick) using a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process. This process deposits a 100-150 nm thick aluminum layer onto one side of the molded part under vacuum, followed by a protective plasma-deposited siloxane hard-coat of 50 nm.

To determine haze onset temperatures, three metallized parts may placed in a calibrated air convection oven for 1.5 hrs. If no haze is observed, the oven temperature may be increased by 2° C. and the parts replaced with three fresh parts to avoid artifacts of in-situ annealing. Oven temperatures at which metallized parts are hazed may be recorded as haze onset temperatures. The parts used in the haze onset measurements may be dynatup parts (0.125″ thickness) vacuum-metallized on one side (^(˜)80 nm thickness aluminum coating). The parts may be conditioned for the experiments by immediately placing the freshly metallized parts in sealed bags, and conditioned at 25° C./50% relative humidity (RH) for 5 and 10 days prior to haze onset tests, while some parts may be kept unconditioned.

A metallized 1.5 mm thick or 3 mm thick sample (e.g., plaque) of the blend composition may have a haze onset temperature of greater than or equal to 130° C., greater than or equal to 135° C., greater than or equal to 140° C., greater than or equal to 145° C., greater than or equal to 150° C., greater than or equal to 155° C., greater than or equal to 160° C., greater than or equal to 165° C., greater than or equal to 170° C., or greater than or equal to 175° C.

Adhesion of a metal layer to a molded article comprising the blend compositions can be evaluated using the cross-hatch adhesion test method (ASTM 3359/ISO 2409). A GT0 rating is considered the best. To conduct the test, a lattice pattern of scratches may be scratched onto a metallized plaque by first making 6 parallel cuts with a cutting tool, and thereafter making another six cuts overlapping the original cuts at a 90 degree angle. These cuts result in a cross cut area of 25 squares being obtained. All loose material may then be removed with a brush. The lattice pattern may then be covered with tape (Tesa 4651). The tape may be removed quickly. The plaque is then ready for evaluation. The crosscut area may be evaluated and classified from GT0 to GT5 (excellent to poor).

A metallized sample of the blend composition may pass a cross-hatch adhesion test (ASTM D 3359, ISO 2409) with a GT0 metal adhesion rating. A metallized sample of the blend composition may pass a cross-hatch adhesion test (ASTM D 3359, ISO 2409) with a GT1 metal adhesion rating.

A metallized sample of the blend composition may pass a corrosion test. Corrosion testing may be performed via exposing metallized samples to a climate chamber at 40° C. and 98% relative humidity as described in the DIN50017. The sample may be exposed for a time period of 120 hour or 240 hours. A metallized sample of the blend composition may exhibit 10% or less, 9% or less, 8% or less, 7% or less, 5% or less, 4% or less, 3% or less, 2% or less, 1% or less, or 0% corrosion when stored for 120 hours or 240 hours at 98% relative humidity at 40° C., in accordance with DIN 50017.

Yellowness Index (YI) for laboratory scale samples may be determined using a HunterLab Color System. Yellowness Index (YI) may be measured according to ASTM D1925 on plaques of 3 mm thickness and on films of 0.2 mm thickness. Films can be prepared in a petri dish by casting from a solution of 1.1 grams of a polycarbonate in 10 ml chloroform. A molded sample of the polycarbonate blend composition can have a yellow index less than or equal to 15, less than or equal to 10, less than or equal to 5, less than or equal to 1, or 0, as measured according to ASTM D1925.

Metallized gloss measurements may be carried out using a BKY Gardner trigloss instrument. Measurements can be recorded at 20 degrees. To determine gloss before and after heat aging, 4 inch×4 inch (10.2 cm×10.2 cm) molded plaques may be tested before and after aging at 160° C. for 1 hour, for example. A metallized article prepared from the polycarbonate blend composition can have a gloss greater than or equal to 1000 units, greater than or equal to 1100 units, greater than or equal to 1200 units, greater than or equal to 1300 units, great than or equal to 1400 units, greater than or equal to 1500 units, greater than or equal to 1600 units, greater than or equal to 1700 units, greater than or equal to 1750 units, greater than or equal to 1800 units, greater than or equal to 1850 units, greater than or equal to 1900 units, greater than or equal to 1950 units, or 2000 units, measured at 20 degrees using a trigloss meter. A metallized article prepared from the polycarbonate blend composition can retain 80% or greater, 85% or greater, 90% or greater, 95% or greater, or 100% of its gloss after heat aging (e.g., heat aging at 150° C. for one hour, or 160° C. for one hour). A metallized article prepared from the polycarbonate blend composition can have a gloss greater than or equal to 1000 units, greater than or equal to 1500 units, greater than or equal to 1900 units, greater than or equal to 1950 units, or 2000 units, measured at 20 degrees using a trigloss meter; and can retain 80% or greater, 85% or greater, 90% or greater, 95% or greater, or 100% of its gloss after heat aging (e.g., heat aging at 150° C. for one hour, or 160° C. for one hour).

Reflectivity of metallized parts may be determined. Reflectivity may be assessed using a spectrophotometer (e.g., an X-rite 1-7 spectrophotometer) in reflection mode with specular light excluded (e.g., specular excluded mode using a 25 mm aperture according to ASTM D1003 using D65 illumination and a 10 degree observer angle). A mirror image has a high level of specular reflection. Hence when specular reflection is excluded from the measurement, a highly reflective, mirror like metallized surface will give low L*. A decrease in mirror like reflectivity will give more diffuse light scattering and hence give a higher L*.

A metallized sample of the blend composition may have high reflectivity. A metallized sample of the blend composition may have an L* of 20 or less, 15 or less, or 10 or less, when measured in reflection mode with specular light excluded (e.g., specular excluded mode using a 25 mm aperture according to ASTM D1003 using D65 illumination and a 10 degree observer angle).

haped, formed, or molded articles comprising the polycarbonate compositions are also provided. The article may be a metallized article. The article may be metallized with, for example, chrome, nickel, or aluminum. The article may optionally include an intervening base coat between the molded article and the metal.

Articles that can be prepared using the polycarbonate compositions include, for example, automotive, aircraft, and watercraft exterior and interior components. Exemplary articles include, but are not limited to, instrument panels, overhead consoles, interior trim, center consoles, panels, quarter panels, rocker panels, trim, fenders, doors, deck lids, trunk lids, hoods, bonnets, roofs, bumpers, fascia, grilles, minor housings, pillar appliqués, cladding, body side moldings, wheel covers, hubcaps, door handles, spoilers, window frames, headlamp bezels, headlamps, tail lamps, tail lamp housings, tail lamp bezels, license plate enclosures, roof racks, circuit breakers, electrical and electronic housings, and running boards, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the article is a metallized automotive bezel.

Exemplary articles include, for example, enclosures, housings, panels, and parts for outdoor vehicles and devices; enclosures for electrical and telecommunication devices; outdoor furniture; aircraft components; boats and marine equipment, including trim, enclosures, and housings; outboard motor housings; depth finder housings; personal watercraft; jet-skis; pools; spas; hot tubs; steps; step coverings; building and construction applications such as glazing, roofs, windows, floors, decorative window furnishings or treatments; treated glass covers for pictures, paintings, posters, and like display items; wall panels, and doors; counter tops; protected graphics; outdoor and indoor signs; enclosures, housings, panels, and parts for automatic teller machines (ATM); computer; desk-top computer; portable computer; lap-top computer; hand held computer housings; monitor; printer; keyboards; FAX machine; copier; telephone; phone bezels; mobile phone; radio sender; radio receiver; enclosures, housings, panels, and parts for lawn and garden tractors, lawn mowers, and tools, including lawn and garden tools; window and door trim; sports equipment and toys; enclosures, housings, panels, and parts for snowmobiles; recreational vehicle panels and components; playground equipment; shoe laces; articles made from plastic-wood combinations; golf course markers; utility pit covers; light fixtures; lighting appliances; network interface device housings; transformer housings; air conditioner housings; cladding or seating for public transportation; cladding or seating for trains, subways, or buses; meter housings; antenna housings; cladding for satellite dishes; coated helmets and personal protective equipment; coated synthetic or natural textiles; coated painted articles; coated dyed articles; coated fluorescent articles; coated foam articles; and like applications.

The article can be an automotive bezel, an automobile headlamp lens (e.g., an outer headlamp lens or an inner headlamp lens), or a headlamp assembly comprising: a headlamp lens; a headlamp reflector; a bezel; and a housing. The headlamp assembly may further comprise a tungsten-halogen, a halogen infrared reflective, or a high-intensity discharge light source.

In certain embodiments, a surface of an article molded from the thermoplastic composition (via, e.g., injection molding) exhibits a gloss of greater than 95 units, measured at 20 degrees using a trigloss meter. In certain embodiments, when a surface of the molded article is metallized, the metallized surface has a gloss of greater than 1000 units, greater than 1100 units, greater than 1200 units, greater than 1300 units, greater than 1400 units, greater than 1500 units, greater than 1600 units, or greater than 1700 units, measured at 20 degrees using a trigloss meter. A base coat can be present between the article and the metallized surface, or the surface of the article can be directly metallized without a base coat.

The gloss of the molded articles may be further heat stable. For example, there is provided an article formed from the compositions (via, e.g., injection molding), and having a metallized surface, wherein the metallized surface retains 80% or more, 85% or more, 90% or more, or 95% or more of its gloss after heat aging at 150° C. for 1 hour, measured at 20 degrees using a trigloss meter. A base coat can be present between the article and the metallized surface, or the surface of the article can be directly metallized without a base coat.

There is also provided an article formed from the compositions (via, e.g., injection molding), and having a metallized surface, wherein the metallized surface retains 80% or more, 85% or more, 90% or more, or 95% or more of its gloss after heat aging at 160° C. for 1 hour, measured at 20 degrees using a trigloss meter. A base coat can be present between the article and the metallized surface, or the surface of the article can be directly metallized without a base coat.

In certain embodiments, there is provided an article formed from the compositions, specifically a composition having up to 2 wt % of a particulate filler, or no filler, and having a metallized surface, wherein the metallized surface retains 80% or more, 85% or more, 90% or more, or 95% or more of its gloss after heat aging at 150° C. for 1 hour, measured at 20 degrees using a tri gloss meter. An undercoat can be present between the article and the metallized surface, or a surface of the article can be directly metallized.

In certain embodiments, there is provided an article formed from the compositions, where the compositions include one or more additives such as, for example, antioxidants, flame retardants, heat stabilizers, light stabilizers, antistatic agents, colorants, and the like. An antioxidant stabilizer composition can be used, such as for example a hindered diol stabilizer, a thioester stabilizer, an amine stabilizer, a phosphite stabilizer, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing types of stabilizers.

The polycarbonate compositions may be molded into useful shaped articles by a variety of methods, such as injection molding, extrusion, rotational molding, compression molding, blow molding, sheet or film extrusion, profile extrusion, gas assist molding, structural foam molding, and thermoforming. Additional fabrication operations for preparing the articles include, but are not limited to, molding, in-mold decoration, baking in a paint oven, lamination, metallization, and/or thermoforming.

Various types of gates can be employed for preparing molded articles, such as for example, side gates, spoke gates, pin gates, submarine gates, film gates, disk gates, or any combination thereof.

The article may be produced by a manufacturing process. The process may include (a) providing a polycarbonate composition as disclosed herein; (b) melting the composition, for example at 200-400° C., 225-350° C., or 270-300° C. in an extruder; (c) extruding the composition; and (d) isolating the composition. The article may be further produced by (e) drying the composition and (f) melt forming the composition.

A method of preparing a metallized article can include molding a composition into a predetermined mold dimensioned to a selected article as described above; and subjecting the molded article to a metallization process (e.g., vacuum deposition processes, vacuum sputtering processes, or a combination thereof). An exemplary method can include the general steps of an initial pump down on a molded article in a vacuum chamber; glow discharge/plasma clear; and metal deposition and application of a topcoat. Exemplary metals for metallization include, but are not limited to, chrome, nickel, and aluminum. The surface of the molded item can be cleaned and degreased before vapor deposition in order to increase adhesion. A base coat can optionally be applied before metallization, for example, to improve metal layer adhesion. In certain embodiments, the metallized article is manufactured without applying a base coat prior to metallization.

A method of preparing a metallized article can include molding an article and subsequently metallizing the article using a physical vapor deposition (PVD) metallization process. During the metallization process, high vacuum may be applied and the article treated with plasma to create a polar surface to enhance adhesion. Subsequent to plasma treatment, a metal (e.g., aluminum) can be vaporized to deposit a selected thickness (e.g., 100 nm to 150 nm) of metal layer onto the article surface. This step may be followed with applying a plasma-deposit siloxane hardcoat of selected thickness (e.g., 50 nm) to protect the metal layer against oxidation and scratches.

A method of preparing a metallized article can include mounting an article (e.g., on a rack) after molding and cleaning the article (e.g., with ionized air); positioning the article in a vacuum chamber; and metallizing the article under reduced pressure (e.g., using physical vapor deposition). After metallization, a protective transparent layer may be applied to the metallized article. For example, hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDS) or SiOx may be applied in the vacuum chamber, or a silicone hard coat may be applied outside the vacuum chamber. In certain embodiments, the metallization process includes the steps of forepumping, glow discharge, high vacuum pumping, coating (thermal coating in high vacuum), cool-down time, protective coating (glow discharge polymerization), venting, and charging.

A method of preparing a metallized article can include drying a molded article (e.g., in a circulating oven) at a selected temperature (e.g., 275° F.) and time (e.g., 8 hours). The molded article can optionally be placed in a bag (e.g., ziplock bag) and heat sealed to minimize moisture uptake prior to metallization. The molded article can be placed on an open rack in a controlled environment at a selected temperature (e.g., 23° C.), and humidity (e.g., 50% relative humidity), and for a selected time (e.g., 1 to 5 days). The molded article may then be metallized (e.g., with evaporative metallization or sputtering). Evaporative metallization may include the process of having a metal resistively heated under deep vacuum that is subsequently allowed to cool onto exposed surfaces.

A method of preparing a metallized article can include providing an article into a vacuum chamber and pumping down the vacuum chamber (e.g., using a roughing pump to obtain a pressure of 8×10⁻² mbar, following by a fine pump to achieve a pressure of 1×10⁻³ mbar). After the pump down, the pressure can be increased (e.g., to 2.5×10⁻² mbar) by adding a selected gas (e.g., argon or an oxygen/argon mixture) into the chamber. A glow discharge plasma clean may be implemented (e.g., at 40 kHz/3 kW) to prepare the article surface for metallization. The chamber may then be pumped down to a suitable pressure (e.g., 1.3×10⁻⁴) prior to metallization. Next, metal deposition (e.g., aluminum deposition) may be implemented for a suitable time (e.g., 1 minute) to apply a selected thickness of metal (e.g., 70 to 100 nm). Following evaporative deposition of the metal, the pressure can be increased in the vacuum chamber (e.g., to 4×10⁻² mbar) in preparation for topcoat application (e.g., HMDS topcoat). The topcoat material (e.g., HDMS) may be introduced into the vacuum chamber to apply a protective layer (e.g., a 45 nm protective HMDS layer) under glow discharge conditions (e.g., for 180 min).

A method of preparing a metallized article can include an initial pump down (e.g., less than 10⁻⁵ Mbar); glow discharge pretreatment (e.g., using air, pressure of 10⁻¹ Mbar, voltage 4 Kv, time 1 minute); pump down (e.g., less than 10⁻⁵ Mbar); thermal aluminum evaporation (e.g., in 1 minute); and plasil protective layer application under glow discharge (e.g., using air, pressure 10⁻¹ Mbar, voltage 4 Kv, time 1 minute).

A method of preparing a metallized article can provide an article with a metal layer thickness of, for example, 10 nm to 300 nm, 50 nm to 200 nm, 75 nm to 175 nm, 100 to 150 nm, or 70 nm to 100 nm.

A topcoat (e.g., siloxane hard-coat) can be applied to a metallized article, the topcoat having a thickness of, for example, 5 nm to 150 nm, 10 nm to 100 nm, 30 nm to 75 nm, 40 nm to 60 nm, or 45 nm to 55 nm.

A wide variety of articles can be manufactured using the disclosed compositions, including components for lighting articles, particularly optical reflectors. The optical reflectors can be used in automotive headlamps, headlamp bezels, headlight extensions and headlamp reflectors, for indoor illumination, for vehicle interior illumination, and the like.

In the manufacture of an optical reflector, the thermoplastic composition can be molded, an optional base coat can be applied to a surface of the article, followed by metallization of the surface. In certain embodiments, a base coat is not applied to a surface of the molded article prior to metallization. The surfaces of the molded items are smooth and good gloss can be obtained even by direct metal vapor deposition without treating the molded item with primer. Moreover, because the release properties of the molded item during injection molding are good, the surface properties of the molded item are superior without replication of mold unevenness.

The articles, in particular lighting articles, can have one or more of the following properties: very low mold shrinkage; good surface gloss even when metal layers are directly vapor deposited; no residue on the mold after long molding runs; and the vapor deposited surfaces do not become cloudy or have rainbow patterns even on heating of the vapor deposited surface. The articles further can have good heat stability.

The polycarbonate blend compositions preferably have one or more beneficial properties for the production of heat resistant articles (e.g., automotive bezels), and in particular, metallizable heat resistant articles. It has been unexpectedly found that the compositions disclosed herein can be prepared having a combination of thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties that exceed currently available technologies. In addition, the compositions can be used to prepare metallized articles to meet current design demands.

The polycarbonate blend compositions can include one or more high heat polycarbonates to enhance one or more of the thermal, mechanical, rheological, and metallization performance of the blend compositions. Exemplary high heat polycarbonates for inclusion in the blend compositions include polycarbonates derived from 2-phenyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phthalimidine (PPPBP) and Bisphenol A (BPA). The PPPBP-BPA copolymer may have endcaps derived from paracumyl phenol (PCP), for example.

The PPPBP-BPA copolymer may include 1 mol % to 50 mol % PPPBP, 10 mol % to 45 mol % PPPBP, 15 mol % to 40 mol % PPPBP, 20 mol % to 35 mol % PPPBP, 25 mol % to 40 mol % PPPBP, 25 mol % to 35 mol % PPPBP, 30 mol % to 35 mol % PPPBP, or 32 mol % to 33 mol % PPPBP.

The PPPBP-BPA copolymer may have a Mw of 15,500 g/mol to 40,000 g/mol, 16,000 g/mol to 35,000 g/mol, 17,000 g/mol to 30,000 g/mol, 15,500 g/mol to 25,000 g/mol, 15,500 g/mol to 23,000 g/mol, 17,000 to 23,000 g/mol, or 17,000 g/mol to 20,000 g/mol. Mw can be determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards.

The PPPBP-BPA copolymers may have a PDI of 1.0 to 10.0, 2.0 to 7.0, or 2.0 to 3.0. In certain embodiments, the PPPBP-BPA copolymers have a PDI of 2.2 or 2.3.

The PPPBP-BPA copolymer may be present in the blend compositions in an amount ranging from 30 wt % to 95 wt %, 35 wt % to 95 wt %, 40 wt % to 95 wt %, 45 wt % to 95 wt %, 50 wt % to 95 wt %, 55 wt % to 95 wt %, 60 wt % to 95 wt %, 60 wt % to 90 wt %, 60 wt % to 85 wt %, or 60 wt % to 80 wt %, based on total weight of the composition.

In certain embodiments, the blend compositions include a PPPBP-BPA copolymer selected from the group consisting of: a paracumyl phenol (PCP) end-capped linear PPPBP-BPA copolymer having a Mw of 23,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; a paracumyl phenol (PCP) end-capped linear PPPBP-BPA copolymer having a Mw of 20,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; and a paracumyl phenol (PCP) end-capped linear PPPBP-BPA copolymer having a Mw of 17,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; or any combination thereof; wherein the Mw is as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards. In certain embodiments, the PPPBP-BPA copolymers include 31 mol % to 35 mol % PPPBP content, or 32 mol % to 33 mol % PPPBP content.

The polycarbonate blend compositions can include one or more polycarbonates to enhance one or more of the thermal, mechanical, rheological, and metallization performance of the blend compositions. Exemplary polycarbonates for inclusion in the blend compositions include homopolycarbonates derived from Bisphenol A. The BPA polycarbonate may have endcaps derived from phenol, paracumyl phenol (PCP), or a combination thereof.

The BPA polycarbonate may have a Mw of 17,000 g/mol to 40,000 g/mol, 17,000 g/mol to 35,000 g/mol, 17,000 g/mol to 30,000 g/mol, 17,000 g/mol to 25,000 g/mol, 17,000 g/mol to 23,000 g/mol, 17,000 to 22,000 g/mol, 18,000 g/mol to 22,000, 18,000 g/mol to 35,000 g/mol, 18,000 g/mol to 30,000 g/mol, 25,000 g/mol to 30,000 g/mol, 26,000 g/mol to 30,000 g/mol, 27,000 g/mol to 30,000 g/mol, 28,000 g/mol to 30,000 g/mol, or 29,000 g/mol to 30,000 g/mol. The BPA polycarbonate may have a Mw of 18,200 g/mol, 18,800 g/mol, 21,800 g/mol, 21,900 g/mol, 29,900 g/mol, or 30,000 g/mol. Mw can be determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards.

The BPA polycarbonates may have a PDI of 1.0 to 10.0, 2.0 to 7.0, or 2.0 to 3.0. In certain embodiments, the BPA polycarbonates have a PDI of 2.2 or 2.3.

The BPA polycarbonate may be present in the blend compositions in an amount ranging from 1 wt % to 60 wt %, 3 wt % to 55 wt %, 5 wt % to 50 wt %, or 10 wt % to 35 wt %, based on total weight of the composition.

In certain embodiments, the blend compositions include a BPA polycarbonate selected from the group consisting of: a PCP end-capped linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 18,200 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; a PCP end-capped linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 18,800 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; a phenol end-capped linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 21,800 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; a PCP end-capped linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 21,900 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; a PCP end-capped linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 29,900 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; and a phenol end-capped linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 30,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; or any combination thereof; wherein the Mw is as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards.

The polycarbonate blend compositions can include one or more polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymers to enhance one or more of the thermal, mechanical, rheological, and metallization performance of the blend compositions. Exemplary polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymers for inclusion in the blend compositions include polycarbonates comprising polydimethylsiloxane units, and more specifically, polycarbonates including polydimethylsiloxane units and units derived from BPA. The polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymers may have endcaps derived from paracumyl phenol (PCP), for example.

The polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer, such as a polydimethylsiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer, may include 1 wt % to 35 wt % siloxane content (e.g., polydimethylsiloxane content), 2 wt % to 30 wt % siloxane content, 5 wt % to 25 wt % siloxane content, or 6 wt % to 20 wt % siloxane content. The polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer may include 6 wt % siloxane content. The polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer may include 20 wt % siloxane content. Siloxane content may refer to polydimethylsiloxane content.

The polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer may have a Mw of 18,000 g/mol to 40,000 g/mol, 20,000 g/mol to 35,000 g/mol, or 23,000 g/mol to 30,000 g/mol. The polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer may have a Mw of 23,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], or 30,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]. Mw can be determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards.

The polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer may have a polysiloxane average block length of 30 to 100 units. The polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer may have a polysiloxane average block length of 40 to 60 units. The polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer may have a polysiloxane average block length of 45 units.

The polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer, such as a polydimethylsiloxane-polcarbonate copolymer, may be present in the blend compositions in an amount ranging from 1 wt % to 60 wt %, 5 wt % to 55 wt %, or 10 wt % to 35 wt %, based on total weight of the composition.

In certain embodiments, the blend compositions include a polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer selected from the group consisting of: a PCP end-capped BPA polycarbonate-polydimethylsiloxane copolymer comprising 20 wt % siloxane, having an average polydimethylsiloxane block length of 45 units, and having a Mw of 30,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; and a PCP end-capped BPA polycarbonate-polydimethylsiloxane copolymer comprising 6 wt % siloxane, having an average polydimethylsiloxane block length of 45 units, and having a Mw of 23,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; or a combination thereof; wherein the Mw is as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards.

The polycarbonate blend compositions can include one or more polyesters to enhance one or more of the thermal, mechanical, rheological, and metallization performance of the blend compositions. Exemplary polyesters for inclusion in the blend compositions include poly(ethylene terephthalate) (“PET”); poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate) (“PBT”); poly (ethylene naphthanoate) (“PEN”); poly(butylene naphthanoate) (“PBN”); poly(propylene terephthalate) (“PPT”); poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene) terephthalate (“PCT”); poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene 1,4-cyclohexandicarboxylate) (“PCCD”); poly(cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) glycol (“PCTG”); poly(ethylene terephthalate) glycol (“PETG”); and poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate-co-isophthalate) (“PCTA”); or any combination thereof.

The polyester can have an intrinsic viscosity, as determined in chloroform at 25° C., of 0.3 to 1.5 deciliters per gram (dl/gm), specifically 0.45 to 1.2 dl/gm.

The polyester can have a Mw of 10,000 g/mol to 200,000 g/mol, or 20,000 g/mol to 100,000 g/mol, as measured by GPC.

The polyester may be present in the blend compositions in an amount ranging from 0.05 wt % to 15 wt %, 0.1 wt % to 15 wt %, 0.5 wt % to 15 wt %, 1 wt % to 15 wt %, 1 wt % to 10 wt %, or 3 wt % to 10 wt %, based on total weight of the composition.

In certain embodiments, the blend compositions include a polyester selected from the group consisting of: poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate); poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate); poly(1,2-ethylene terephthalate); poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene 1,4-cyclohexandicarboxylate); and poly(cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) glycol; or any combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, the blend compositions include a polyester selected from the group consisting of: poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate) having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of 1.1 dl/g, and a carboxylic acid (COOH) end group content of 38 meq/Kg COOH; poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate) having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of 0.66 dl/g, and a carboxylic acid (COOH) end group content of 17 meq/Kg COOH; poly(1,2-ethylene terephthalate) having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of 0.54 dl/g, and a carboxylic acid (COOH) end group content of 20 meq/Kg COOH; poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene 1,4-cyclohexandicarboxylate); and poly(cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) glycol; or any combination thereof.

The polycarbonate blend compositions can include one or more hydroxyl-functionalized flow promoters to enhance one or more of the thermal, mechanical, rheological, and metallization performance of the blend compositions. Exemplary flow promoters for inclusion in the blend compositions include ethylene glycol; propylene glycol; polyethylene glycol; polypropylene glycol; tri(hydroxymethyl)aminomethan (“THAM”); glycerol monostearate (“GMS”); octadecanoic acid, 1,2,3-propanetriyl ester (glycerol tristearate) (“GT5”); or any combination thereof.

The polyalkylene glycol flow promoters (e.g., PEG, PPG) can have a Mw of 1,000 g/mol to 100,000 g/mol, 2,000 g/mol to 50,000 g/mol, or 2,000 g/mol to 35,000 g/mol, as measured by GPC.

The hydroxyl-functionalized flow promoters may be present in the blend compositions in an amount ranging from 0.05 wt % to 5 wt %, or 0.1 wt % to 2 wt %, based on total weight of the composition.

In certain embodiments, the blend compositions include a hydroxyl-functionalized flow promoter selected from the group consisting of: ethylene glycol; polyethylene glycol (PEG) having a Mw of 3,350 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; PEG having a Mw of 10,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; PEG having a Mw of 35,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; polypropylene glycol (PPG) having a Mw of 2,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]; tri(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane; glycerol monostearate; and glycerol tristearate; or any combination thereof

The polycarbonate blend compositions can include one or more additives. Exemplary additives for inclusion in the blend compositions include, for example, pentaerythritol tetrastearate (PETS), pentaerythrithol tetrakis-(3-dodecylthiopropionate) (SEENOX 412S), tetrakis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)[1,1-biphenyl]-4,4′-diylbisphosphonite (PEPQ), monozinc phosphate (MZP), phosphoric acid, hydroxyl octaphenyl benzotriazole, and any combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, the blend compositions include PETS, a phosphite stabilizer (e.g., Iragafos 168), and a hindered phenol (e.g., Irgafos 1076). In certain embodiments, the blend compositions include 0.27 wt % PETS, 0.08 wt % phosphite stabilizer (e.g., Iragafos 168), and 0.04 wt % hindered phenol (e.g., Irgafos 1076), based on total weight of the composition.

In certain embodiments, the blend compositions include PEPQ as an additive. The PEPQ can be present in the blend compositions in an amount ranging from 0.01 wt % to 1 wt %, 0.05 wt % to 0.5 wt %, or 0.1 wt % to 0.2 wt %, based on total weight of the composition.

In certain embodiments, the blend compositions include phosphoric acid as an additive. The H₃PO₄ can be present in the blend compositions in an amount ranging from 0.01 to 0.2 wt %, based on total weight of the composition.

In certain embodiments, the blend compositions include MZP as an additive. The MZP can be present in the blend compositions in an amount ranging from 0.005 to 0.2 wt %, based on total weight of the composition.

In certain embodiments, the blend compositions include pentaerythrithol tetrakis-(3-dodecylthiopropionate as an additive. The pentaerythrithol tetrakis-(3-dodecylthiopropionate can be present in the blend compositions in an amount ranging from 0.005 to 0.2 wt %, based on total weight of the composition.

In certain embodiments, the blend compositions include hydroxyl octaphenyl benzotriazole as an additive. The hydroxyl octaphenyl benzotriazole can be present in the blend compositions in an amount ranging from 0.01 wt % to 1 wt %, 0.05 wt % to 0.5 wt %, or 0.1 wt % to 0.2 wt %, based on total weight of the composition.

EXAMPLES

Physical testing (e.g., Vicat softening temperature, heat deflection temperature, melt volume flow rate, melt flow rate, melt viscosity, Izod notched impact, multiaxial impact) was performed according to ISO or ASTM standards. Unless specified to the contrary herein, all test standards are the most recent standard in effect at the time of filing this application.

Vicat B120 softening temperatures were measured according to ISO 306-2013.

Notched Izod Impact (NII) Strength is used to compare the impact resistances of plastic materials. Notched Izod impact strength was determined using a 3.2 mm (4 mm for ISO) thick, molded, notched Izod impact bar. It was determined per ASTM D256-2010 or ISO 180-2000. The results are reported in Joules per meter (ASTM) or kJ/m² (ISO). Tests were conducted at room temperature (23° C.) and at low temperatures (0° C. and −30° C.).

Multiaxial impact energies were measured according to ASTM D3763-2010 or ISO 6603.

Heat deflection temperature (HDT) is a relative measure of a material's ability to perform for a short time at elevated temperatures while supporting a load. The test measures the effect of temperature on stiffness: a standard test specimen is given a defined surface stress and the temperature is raised at a uniform rate. HDT was determined as flatwise under 1.82 MPa or 0.45 MPa loading with 3.2 mm (4 mm for ISO) thickness bar according to ASTM D648-2007 or ISO 75-2013. Results are reported in ° C.

Melt volume rate (MVR) was measured at 300° C./2.16 kg or 330° C./2.16 kg as per ASTM D1238-2010 or ISO 1133-2011. Melt viscosity (MV) was measured according to ISO11443 at a temperature of 300° C. or 316° C. and shear rate of 1500 or 5000 s⁻¹.

Melt flow rate was measured according to ASTM D1238-2010 or ISO 1133-2011.

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) employing a temperature sweep rate of 20° C./min was used to determine glass transition temperatures.

Spiral flow test: The spiral flow length was measured under a molding temperature of 330° C., a mold temperature of 100° C., and an injection pressure of 300 mm/s. The resulting molded parts had a thickness of 1 mm and a width of 15 mm.

Yellowness Index (YI) was measured using the ASTM D1925 test method on plaques of 3 mm thickness and on films of 0.2 mm thickness. Films were prepared in a petri dish by casting from a solution of 1.1 grams of a polycarbonate in 10 ml of chloroform.

Color data was acquired on an X-rite 1-7 spectrophotometer in the range 360 nm to 750 nm. The reflection data was acquired in specular excluded mode using a 25 mm aperture according to ASTM D1003 using D65 illumination and a 10 degree observer angle. A mirror image has a high level of specular reflection. Hence when specular reflection is excluded from the measurement, a highly reflective, mirror like metallized surface will give low L*. A decrease in mirror like reflectivity will give more diffuse light scattering and hence give a higher L*.

Metallization was performed on molded parts from a film gate injection set-up having dimensions 60 mm×60 mm and a thickness of either 3 mm or 1.5 mm using the physical vapor deposition (PVD) process. This process deposits a 100-150 nm thick aluminum layer onto one side of the molded part under vacuum, followed by a protective plasma-deposited siloxane hard-coat of 50 nm. The initial metallization performance was assessed by 2 well-trained operators as acceptable (“OK”) or not acceptable (“NOK”). Metal adhesion was tested according to the ASTM3359/ISO2409 method using a tape (Scotch 898) pull test on a metallized surface inscribed with a crosshatch, using a rating system with GT0 indicating no delamination and GT5 indicating 100% delamination. Corrosion testing was performed via exposing metallized samples to a climate chamber at 40° C. and 98% relative humidity as described in the DIN50017 procedure. Haze onset was determined as the highest temperature at which no visual defects appear after 1 hour of heat aging in an air circulating oven, exposing all sides of the sample (symmetric heating).

Haze measurements were performed on rectangular injection molded plaques having dimensions of 6″L×2.5″W×0.125″T according to ASTM D1003.

Transmittance was measured according to ASTM D1003, and defined in the following formula as: % T=(I/I_(o))×100%; wherein: I=intensity of the light passing through the test sample; and I_(o)=Intensity of incident light.

Molecular weight determinations were performed using GPC, using a cross-linked styrene-divinylbenzene column and calibrated to bisphenol-A polycarbonate standards using a UV-VIS detector set at 254 nm. Samples were prepared at a concentration of 1 mg/ml, and eluted at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min.

Table 1 summarizes the exemplary materials components of the polycarbonate blend compositions. The listed copolymers and polycarbonate resins were prepared by methods known in the art. All other chemical entities were purchased from the commercial sources listed.

TABLE 1 PPPBP-PC-1 PPPBP (N-Phenylphenolphthaleinylbisphenol, 2,2-Bis(4-hydro) - SABIC Innovative Bisphenol A Copolymer, 32 mol % PPPBP, Mw 23,000 g/mol Plastics [^(±)1,000 g/mol], interfacial polymerization, PCP end-capped, PDI = (“SABIC-IP”) 2-3 PPPBP-PC-2 PPPBP (N-Phenylphenolphthaleinylbisphenol, 2,2-Bis(4-hydro) - SABIC-IP Bisphenol a Copolymer, 32 mol % PPPBP, Mw 19,900 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], interfacial polymerization, PCP end-capped, PDI = 2-3 PPPBP-PC-3 PPPBP (N-Phenylphenolphthaleinylbisphenol, 2,2-Bis(4-hydro) - SABIC-IP Bisphenol A Copolymer, 32 mol % PPPBP, Mw 17,300 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], interfacial polymerization, PCP end-capped, PDI = 2-3 PPPBP-PC-4 PPPBP (N-Phenylphenolphthaleinylbisphenol, 2,2-Bis(4-hydro) - SABIC-IP Bisphenol A Copolymer, 18 mol % PPPBP, Mw 23,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], interfacial polymerization, PCP end-capped, PDI = 2-3 PC-1 Linear Bisphenol A Polycarbonate, produced via interfacial SABIC-IP polymerization, Mw 30,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using polycarbonate standards, phenol end- capped, PDI = 2-3 PC-2 Linear Bisphenol A Polycarbonate, produced via interfacial SABIC-IP polymerization, Mw 21,800 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using polycarbonate standards, phenol end- capped, PDI = 2-3 PC-3 Linear Bisphenol A Polycarbonate, produced via interfacial SABIC-IP polymerization, Mw 18,800 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using polycarbonate standards, para- cumylphenyl (PCP) end-capped, PDI = 2-3 PC-4 Linear Bisphenol A Polycarbonate produced by interfacial SABIC-IP polymerization, Mw 29,900 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using polycarbonate standards, PCP end- capped, PDI = 2-3 PC-5 Linear Bisphenol A polycarbonate produced by interfacial SABIC-IP polymerization, Mw 21,900 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using polycarbonate standards, PCP end- capped, PDI = 2-3 PC-6 Linear Bisphenol A polycarbonate produced by interfacial SABIC-IP polymerization, Mw 18,200 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using polycarbonate standards, PCP end- capped, PDI = 2-3 PC-7 Linear Bisphenol A polycarbonate produced by melt SABIC-IP polymerization, Mw 21,700 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using polycarbonate standards, PDI = 2-3 PC-8 Bisphenol A/1,1-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5- Bayer Material trimethylcyclohexane copolycarbonate resin (Apec 1895/7 grade) Science having a melt a melt volume rate of 18 g/10 min when measured according to ISO 1133, 330° C., 2.16 kg load PC-Si-1 PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) - Bisphenol A Polycarbonate SABIC-IP copolymer, produced via interfacial polymerization, 6 wt % siloxane, average PDMS block length of 45 units (D45), Mw 23,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using polycarbonate standards, para-cumylphenol (PCP) end-capped, PDI = 2-3 PC-Si-2 PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) - Bisphenol A Polycarbonate SABIC-IP copolymer, produced via interfacial polymerization, 20 wt % siloxane, average PDMS block length of 45 units (D45), Mw 30,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using polycarbonate standards, para-cumylphenol (PCP) end-capped, PDI = 2-3 PETS Pentaerythritol Tetrastearate LONZA PBT-1 Polybutylene terephthalate produced via polymerization of SABIC-IP dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and butanediol (BDO), with intrinsic viscosity (IV) of 0.66 dl/g, and carboxylic acid (COOH) end group content of 17 meq/Kg COOH PET-1 Polyethylene Terephthalate with intrinsic viscosity (IV) of 0.535 AKRA dl/g, carboxylic acid (COOH) end group content of 20 meq/Kg COOH, and diethylene glycol (DEG) content of 0.8% Seenox 412S Pentaerythrithol tetrakis-(3-dodecylthiopropionate) HARUNO SANGYO KAISHA PCCD Poly(1,4-cyclohexane-dimethanol-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate) EASTMAN CHEMICAL PCTG Poly(cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate)-co-poly(ethylene EASTMAN terephthalate) CHEMICAL PEPQ Tetrakis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)[1,1-biphenyl]- CLARIANT 4,4′diylbisphosphonite MZP Monozinc phosphate GALLARD SCHLESINGER PDMS Polydimethylsiloxane oil, M1000 (1000 cps) MOMENTIVE PMPS Polymethylphenylsiloxane oil, PN200 MOMENTIVE EG Ethylene glycol; 1,2-Ethanediol MERCK PEG-1 Poly(ethylene glycol) - Mw of 3,350 g/mol CLARIANT PEG-2 Poly(ethylene glycol) - Mw of 10,000 g/mol FISHER PEG-3 Poly(ethylene glycol) - Mw of 35,000 g/mol FISHER PPG Poly(propylene glycol) - Mw of 2,000 g/mol FISHER THAM Tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane ANGUS CHEMIE GMS Glycerol Monostereate (Rikemal S100A) RIKEN VITAMIN CO., LTD GTS Octadecanoic acid, 1,2,3-propanetriyl ester (glycerol tristearate) EMERY OLEOHEMICALS GMBH Kane Ace Siloxane-Acrylic ester copolymer KANEKA MR02 ABS Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene graft copolymer SABIC-IP MBS Methylmethacrylate Butadiene shell-core copolymer DOW/ROHM AND HAAS SAN Styrene-Acrylonitrile copolymer SABIC-IP/DOW Bulk ABS Styrene-Acrylonitrile copolymer SABIC-IP Phosphite Tris(di-t-butylphenyl)phosphite BASF stabilizer PETS SEU Palmitic/Stearic Acid (50/50) ester of dipenta/pentaerythritol EMERY OLEOHEMICALS GMBH Hindered Octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate BASF Phenol BPA 4,4′-(propane-2,2-diyl)diphenol SABIC UV stabilizer Hydroxyl octaphenyl benzotriazole CYTEC H₃PO₄ Phosphoric acid diluted in water LABCHEM/ FISHER SCIENTIFIC

Unless stated otherwise, the compositions were made by the following procedures. All solid additives (e.g., stabilizers, colorants, solid flame retardants) were dry blended off-line as concentrates using one of the primary polymer powders as a carrier and starve-fed via gravimetric feeder(s) into the feed throat of the extruder. The remaining polymer(s) were starve-fed via gravimetric feeder(s) into the feed throat of the extruder as well.

Extrusion of all materials was performed on a 25 mm Werner-Pfleiderer ZAK twin-screw extruder (L/D ratio of 33/1) with a vacuum port located near the die face. The extruder has 9 zones, which were set at temperatures of 40° C. (feed zone), 200° C. (zone 1), 250° C. (zone 2), 270° C. (zone 3), and 280-300° C. (zone 4 to 8). Screw speed was 300 rpm and throughput was between 15 and 25 kg/hr.

The compositions were molded after drying at 135° C. for 4 hours on a 45-ton Engel molding machine with 22 mm screw or 75-ton Engel molding machine with 30 mm screw operating at a temperature around 310° C. with a mold temperature of 100° C.

Unless stated otherwise, the phrase “0.4 wt % additives” or a derivation thereof, as used in the following tables, refers to 0.27 wt % pentaerythritol tetrastearate (PETS)+0.08 wt % phosphite stabilizer (e.g., Iragafos 168)+0.04 wt % hindered phenol (e.g., Irgafos 1076).

Polyester flow aids were incorporated into polycarbonate blend compositions to lower viscosity and create high heat compositions that process more easily. The performance properties of these compositions are displayed in Table 2. The composition 4 containing PBT demonstrated the greatest increase in flow rates (MVR, MFR) and reduction in viscosity while also maintaining high impact strength.

TABLE 2 Composition 1 2 3 4 5 6 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 63.75 63.75 63.75 63.75 63.75 63.75 PC-4 (%) 15.94 15.46 10.46 10.46 5.46 10.46 PC-5 (%) 19.92 19.92 19.92 19.92 19.92 PC-6 (%) 24.0 PCCD (%) 5.0 PBT-1 (%) 5.0 PET-1 (%) 10.0 PETS (%) 0.27 0.75 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 Phosphite Stab.; 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 Irgafos 168 (%) Hindered Phenol; 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 Irgafos 1076 (%) NII, 23° C. (J/m) 132 113 94.2 83 74.3 100 Ductility (%) 0 0 0 0 0 0 MAI Total Energy (J) 71 75 61 74 67 68 Ductility (%) 100 100 100 100 100 100 MFR, 300° C., 2.16 kg (g/10 min) 12 13 19 28 24 19 MFR, 330° C., 2.16 kg (g/10 min) 35 36 55 134 75 56 Melt, vis 316° C., 5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 159 148 126 94 108 114 Tg (° C.) 175 171 160 165 168 168

Further studies incorporating PBT and PET into blends containing PPPBP-PC-1 and PC-6 are displayed in Table 3. Compositions containing 2-5% PBT and 4-6% PET demonstrated improvements in flow and viscosity. However, these improvements were accompanied by a reduction in heat (Tg).

TABLE 3 Composition 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 79.61 74.61 80 79.6 76.36 76.49 72.53 80 PC-6 (%) 20 20 14 16.64 20 14 20 14 PBT-1 (%) 5 5 2.3 5 1.97 PET-1 (%) 0.61 1.07 3.25 4.12 5.11 5.61 PETS (%) 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 Phosphite Stab.; 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 Irgafos 168 (%) Hindered Phenol; 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 Irgafos 1076 (%) Melt density, 330° C., 2.17 kg 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.18 (g/cm³) MVR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 36 217 119 54.9 44.8 203 59.1 43.7 (cm³/10 min) MFR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 42 256 140 65 53 240 70 52 (g/10 min) Melt, vis 316° C., 5000 s⁻¹ 148 91 109 129 134 87 115 131 (Pa-s) Tg (° C.) 181 167 168 173 175 162 175 175 Composition 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 72.06 75.47 76.03 71.82 72.33 65.1 68.31 PC-6 (%) 16.88 16.57 14 17.71 14.06 20 16.3 PBT-1 (%) 5 1.62 0 0.08 3.22 4.51 5 PET-1 (%) 5.67 5.95 9.58 10 10 10 10 PETS (%) 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 Phosphite Stab.; 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 Irgafos 168 (%) Hindered Phenol; 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 Irgafos 1076 (%) Melt density, 330° C., 2.17 kg 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.18 (g/cm³) MVR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 415 217 59.5 55.7 110 959 190 (cm³/10 min) MFR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 490 256 70 66 130 1132 224 (g/10 min) Melt, vis 316° C., 5000 s⁻¹ 84 99 118 135 109 67 95 (Pa-s) Tg (° C.) 170 167 168 175 175 175 163

Polycarbonate compositions that possess 5% or 7% of semicrystalline polyester PBT were prepared (Table 4, compositions 26, 28). These compositions possessed the best balance of flow and heat properties.

TABLE 4 Composition 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 80 78 78 77 85 90 85 90 PC-6 (%) 20 14 16 14 10 5 8 3 PBT-1 (%) 0 3 1.1 3 5 5 7 7 PET-1 (%) 0 5 5 6 0 0 0 0 PETS (%) 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 Phosphite Stab.; 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 Irgafos 168 (%) Hindered Phenol; 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 Irgafos 1076 (%) HDT, 0.45 MPa, 3.2 mm (° C.) 174 157 164 158 164 165 160 161 Energy to max load-avg (J) 58 44 53 62 47 45 56 52 Energy to failure-avg (J) 61 47 56 64 50 47 59 54 Energy, Total-avg (J) 61 47 56 64 50 47 59 54 Max Load-avg (kN) 6.9 5.7 6.5 6.7 5.8 5.7 6.6 5.8 Deflection at max load-avg 18 15 17 19 15 15 18 15 (mm) Ductility (%) 0 0 0 60 20 20 0 40 Melt density, 330° C., 2.17 kg 1.11 1.11 1.11 1.11 1.11 1.11 1.11 1.11 (g/cm³) MVR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 43.6 167 99.6 215 203 232 513 280 (cm³/10 min) MFR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 48 185 140 239 225 258 569 311 (g/10 min) Melt, vis 316° C., 5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 155 124 131 120 113 127 105 119 Tg (° C.) 182 175 175 175 175 183 165 168

Table 5 shows that compositions 26 and 28 exhibited significantly increased melt flow rates and lowered melt viscosities. At the same time, 26 and 28 demonstrated a maintenance of heat capability (e.g., see their values for HDT and Tg).

These compositions were made by powder to pellet conversion and compounding of experimental samples using a single screw lab line, S2. All ingredients were tumble-blended prior to compounding and fed using a single feeder to the extruder. The typical sample size for this extruder is 3 kg. Standard injection molding was done at 580° F. with 35 s cycle time. Abusive molding was done at 580° F. with 120 s cycle time.

TABLE 5 Composition 1 26 28 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 63.75 85.00 85.00 PC-4 (%) 15.94 PC-5 (%) 19.92 PC-6 (%) 9.61 7.61 PBT-1 (%) 5.00 7.00 PETS (%) 0.27 0.27 0.27 Phosphite Stab.; Irgafos 168 (%) 0.08 0.08 0.08 Hindered Phenol; Irgafos 1076 (%) 0.04 0.04 0.04 HDT, 0.45 MPa, 3.2 mm (° C.) 165 164 160 Energy to max load-avg (J) 60 57 55.7 Energy to failure-avg (J) 62 58.1 58.9 MAI Energy, Total-avg (J) 62 58.4 59 Max Load-avg (kN) 7.2 5.8 6.6 Deflection at max load-avg (mm) 14 14.9 17.6 Ductility (%) 80 20 0 MFR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec (g/10 min) 35 225 250 Melt vis, 316° C., 5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 160 113 105 Tg (° C.) 175 175 165

Metallization data for 26 and 28 is summarized in Table 6. Metallized samples pass haze onset at thicknesses of 3.0 mm and 1.5 mm at temperatures up to 165° C. Table 6 also displays that the compositions pass the cross-hatch adhesion test with the highest rating of GT0 at both thicknesses. In addition, both 26 and 28 pass the corrosion test in a humid environment for up to 10 days.

TABLE 6 Composition 26 28 3.0 mm metallized plaques Haze onset at 160° C. (P/F) P P Haze onset at 165° C. (P/F) P P Haze onset at 170° C. (P/F) F F Corrosion test Cross hatch adhesion test (GT) GT0 GT0 2 days at 98% humidity (P/F) P P 5 days at 98% humidity (P/F) P P 10 days at 98% humidity (P/F) P P 1.5 mm metallized plaques Haze onset at 160° C. (P/F) P P Haze onset at 165° C. (P/F) P P Haze onset at 170° C. (P/F) F F Corrosion test Cross hatch adhesion test (GT) GT0 GT0 2 days at 98% humidity (P/F) P P 5 days at 98% humidity (P/F) P P 10 days at 98% humidity (P/F) P P

Incorporation of the flow aid PBT with high temperature PC-8 was also investigated (Table 7), although this strategy to improve flow properties in this polycarbonate blend had limited success. Incorporation of PBT into the PC-8 blends lowered melt viscosity and improved melt flow rate with greater amounts of PBT. However, melt viscosities were higher than those observed for the corresponding PPPBP-PC-1 blends (Table 5), and heat capability is compromised significantly. Overall, the flow improvements demonstrated from modification of the PC-8 blend are much less pronounced than the improvements noted above in compositions 26 and 28.

TABLE 7 Composition 30 31 32 33 PC-8 (%) 100 99 95 90 PBT-1 (%) 1.0 5.0 10.0 Melt Density, 330° C./2.17 kg 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.15 (g/cm³) MVR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 10.6 13.4 19.8 31 (cm³/10 min) MFR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 12 15 23 36 (g/10 min) Melt vis @ 316° C., 5000 s⁻¹ 218 198 140 78 (Pa-s) Tg (° C.) 185 180 165 150 Parallel Plate Viscosity Change −8.8 −45 −65 −64 (%)

Table 8 shows PBT as a flow aid in blends with 68 wt % PPPBP-PC-1 and BPA polycarbonate produced by interfacial or melt polymerization. Melt viscosity is decreased similarly in blends with either interfacial or melt produced polycarbonate with the addition of 1.5% or 5% PBT. Heat deflection temperature is also similar with both types of polycarbonate in the corresponding blends with PBT, and notched Izod impact values are maintained in all blends.

TABLE 8 Composition 34 35 36 37 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 68 68 68 68 PC-2 (%) 30 27 PC-7 (%) 30 27 PBT-1, milled (%) 1.5 5 1.5 5 Additives (%) 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 HDT, 0.45 MPa/Flat (° C.) 161 153 161 152 HDT, 1.8 MPa/Flat (° C.) 148 140 148 139 Melt vis, 300° C., 1500 s⁻¹ 326 261 316 250 (Pa-s) Melt vis, 300° C., 5000 s⁻¹ 152 125 146 124 (Pa-s) NII, 23° C., 3 mm (kJ/m²), 9 8 8 8 5.5 J Pendulum Melt Viscosity was measured according to ISO11443; HDT was measured according to ISO75; NII was measured according to ISO180.

The balance between flow and impact properties of PPPBP-PC containing compositions were significantly improved by the addition of polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymers. In addition, these improved compositions showed no loss in aesthetics, metallization properties, or heat. As such, compositions were obtained that have significantly improved impact performance properties at a given flow level, as show in Tables 9-12.

Composition 40 including PPPBP-PC-1 and PC-Si-1, and composition 41 further including PC-3, both demonstrated similar visual appearance, crosshatch adhesion, and corrosion resistance compared to compositions including PPPBP-PC-1 and PC-1 and/or PC-2 (38, 39) (Table 9). Compositions 40 and 41 also have similar haze onset as compositions 38 and 39 at the same MVR level. These results demonstrate that inclusion of PC-siloxane copolymers in PPPBP-PC-1/PC blends does not have a negative effect on the metallization properties, while the flow/impact balance is improved.

TABLE 9 Composition 38 39 40 41 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 64 64 64 64 PC-1 (%) 16 PC-2 (%) 20 36 PC-3 (%) 18 PC-Si-1 (%) 36 18 MVR (cm³/10 min)  9 11  9 12 Visual appearance OK OK OK OK Initial crosshatch (GT) GT0 GT0 GT0 GT0 Corrosion test 48 h visual OK OK OK OK 5 days visual OK OK OK OK 10 days visual OK OK OK OK 10 days corrosion 0% 0% 0% 0% 10 days crosshatch (GT) GT0 GT0 GT0 GT0 3.0 mm metallized plaques Haze onset at 150° C., 1 h (P/F) P P P P Haze onset at 155° C., 1 h (P/F) P P P P Haze onset at 160° C., 1 h (P/F) P P P P Haze onset at 165° C., 1 h (P/F) P Some haze P Some haze Haze onset at 170° C., 1 h (P/F) F F F F

Additional PPPBP-PC/PC-siloxane blends were produced to explore the effect of varying the amounts of PC-siloxane in the composition (Table 10). In all cases, heat properties were comparable to 42, a non-PC-siloxane containing blend. Significant improvements in NII and MAI (at low temp) strengths were observed upon incorporation of PC-Si-1 or PC-Si-2, especially at higher loadings.

TABLE 10 Composition 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 PC-1 (%) 18.0 PC-2 (%) 17.6 PC-3 (%) 35.6 18.0 30.0 24.0 18.0 12.0 6.0 PC-Si-1 (%) 18.0 36.0 PC-Si-2 (%) 6.0 12.0 18.0 24.0 30.0 Additives (%) 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 MV 300° C./1500 s⁻¹ 396 280 310 340 276 293 281 323 332 (Pa-s) MV 300° C./5000 s⁻¹ 175 135 144 154 134 139 144 151 156 (Pa-s) Vicat B120 (° C.) 173 171 172 174 172 174 173 174 175 HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 165 165 165 165 164 164 166 166 166 HDT, 1.8 MPa (° C.) 153 151 149 149 150 150 149 149 149 NII, 23° C. (kJ/m²) 10 9 11 14 15 27 31 33 32 NII, 0° C. (kJ/m²) 9 7 11 12 12 18 24 29 29 NII, −30° C. (kJ/m²) 7 5 8 10 8 12 17 20 23 MAI energy at max. force, 107 109 99 112 117 128 104 105 109 23° C. (J) MAI, 23° C. ductility (%) 100 60 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 MAI energy at max. force, 97 102 106 106 113 99 101 103 89 0° C. (J) MAI 0° C. ductility (%) 0 0 0 100 0 20 100 100 100 MAI energy at max. force, 74 78 93 93 91 97 89 93 71 −30° C. (J) MAI, −30° C. ductility (%) 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 100 100 Melt Viscosity was measured according to ISO11443; Vicat B120 was measured according to IS0306; HDT was measured according to ISO75; NII was measured according to ISO180; MAI was measured according to ISO6603.

Compositions including the lower molecular weight PPPBP-PC-3 resin were evaluated, as shown in Table 11. Thermal properties decreased by a few degrees Celsius compared to the corresponding composition including PPPBP-PC-1. The compositions including PC-siloxane showed significant improvements in Izod notched impact and multi axial impact (at low temp), especially at higher loadings. By changing to a lower molecular weight PPPBP-PC resin, a significant improvement in flow was observed.

TABLE 11 Composition 42 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 64.0 PPPBP-PC-3 (%) 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 PC-1 (%) 18.0 PC-2 (%) 17.6 36.0 18.0 24.0 18.0 12.0 9.0 PC-3 (%) 18.0 24.0 18.0 12.0 9.0 PC-Si-1 18.0 18.0 36.0 PC-Si-2 12.0 18.0 24.0 12.0 18.0 24.0 18.0 Additives (%) 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 MV 396 181 232 209 241 243 243 249 215 225 233 234 300° C./1500 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) MV 175 107 117 107 117 118 119 119 109 111 112 114 300° C./5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) Vicat B120 (° C.) 168 169 169 169 170 171 172 169 170 171 170 HDT, 0.45 MPa 165 163 163 163 163 163 164 164 162 164 165 164 (° C.) HDT, 1.8 MPa 153 150 149 149 147 148 149 148 148 150 152 148 (° C.) NII, 23° C. 10 8 10 9 13 25 34 34 21 30 33 33 (kJ/m2) NII, 0° C. (kJ/m2) 9 8 9 9 11 18 28 30 16 24 29 25 NII, −30° C. 7 8 9 9 9 13 18 22 12 17 21 18 (kJ/m2) MAI energy at 107 55 75 96 101 95 88 107 114 107 99 108 max. force, 23° C. (J) MAI, 23° C. 100 0 80 80 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 ductility (%) MAI energy at 97 15 82 82 90 94 83 88 100 65 86 79 max. force, 0° C. (J) MAI, 0° C. 0 0 0 0 60 0 100 100 0 100 100 100 ductility (%) MAI energy at 74 19 51 53 72 75 86 85 66 90 87 75 max. force, −30° C. (J) MAI, −30° C. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 80 0 0 60 0 ductility (%) Metallization test: 1.5 mm metallized plaques Passes haze onset 160 test at (° C.) Crosshatch GT0 adhesion test (GT) Corrosion test, 0 10 d, 98% rel. hum. (%) Melt Viscosity was measured according to ISO11443; Vicat B120 was measured according to IS0306; HDT was measured according to ISO75; NII was measured according to ISO180; MAI was measured according to ISO6603.

Table 12 shows that compositions including 45 wt % PPPBP-PC-1 and a PC-siloxane retained heat properties comparable to the non-PC-siloxane containing composition 62. Upon inclusion of PC-Si-1 or PC-Si-2, the Vicat B120 softening temperature is not affected. Significant improvements in Izod notched impact and multi axial impact (at low temp) for PC-Si-1 and PC-Si-2 are noted, especially at higher loadings. These compositions additionally retained or improved flow properties (MVR). Ultimately, in both the 64% PPPBP-PC-1 modified compositions and 45% PPPBP-PC-1 compositions, the incorporation of PC-siloxane (either PC-Si-1 or PC-Si-2) provided significant improvement in impact-flow balance, while retaining heat.

TABLE 12 Composition 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 45.0 45.0 45.0 45.0 45.0 45.0 45.0 45.0 45.0 45.0 45.0 PC-1 (%) 20.0 PC-2 (%) 35.0 PC-3 (%) 55.0 37.0 19.0 49.0 44.2 43.0 38.5 37.0 31.0 PC-Si-1 18.0 36.0 55.0 PC-Si-2 6.0 10.8 12.0 16.5 18.0 24.0 Additives (%) 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 MV 300° C./ 294 141 199 229 265 188 199 201 210 213 226 1500 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) MV 300° C./ 104 113 103 103 103 108 110 112 5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) Vicat B120 (° C.) 160 161 161 161 161 161 161 161 162 162 163 HDT, 0.45 MPa 154 154 154 155 154 154 155 155 155 155 156 (° C.) HDT, 1.8 MPa 141 140 140 139 141 141 141 140 141 140 143 (° C.) NII, 23° C. (kJ/m2) 10 9 13 17 27 15 33 35 37 39 38 NII, 0° C. (kJ/m2) 8 7 12 15 18 11 20 21 34 33 35 NII, −30° C. (kJ/m2) 7 5 7 12 13 8 14 14 18 19 28 MAI energy at 129 91 104 102 101 116 117 116 127 117 112 max. force, 23° C. (J) MAI, 23° C. 100 60 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 ductility (%) MAI energy at 131 83 105 113 117 116 116 115 124 111 100 max. force, 0° C. (J) MAI, 0° C. 100 0 40 100 100 40 100 100 100 100 100 ductility (%) MAI energy at 122 64 104 102 95 94 100 102 111 94 110 max. force, −30° C. (J) MAI, −30° C. 0 0 0 20 100 0 0 0 60 100 100 ductility (%) Melt Viscosity was measured according to ISO11443; Vicat B120 was measured according to IS0306; HDT was measured according to ISO75; NII was measured according to ISO180; MAI was measured according to ISO6603.

Table 13 shows that incorporation of PDMS in the PPPBP-PC blends resulted in negative aesthetic issues on molded parts, which may result in failures upon metallization (visual appearance). In addition, impact properties significantly deteriorated, especially at the higher loading of PDMS (composition 76). Incorporation of PMPS yielded no aesthetic issues, but resulted in significant deterioration of Izod impact properties (compositions 77 and 78).

TABLE 13 Composition 73 74 75 76 77 78 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 64 64 64 64 64 64 PC-3 (%) 34.591 33.626 34.591 33.626 33.768 31.998 Silicon oil (1000 cps) 0.989 1.954 PDMS (100 cps) 0.989 1.954 PMPS 1.812 3.582 Additives 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.42 HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 166 165 165 166 160 160 Vicat B120 (° C.) 168 170 168 163 158 158 NII, 23° C. (kJ/m²) 9.6 10.7 10.4 9.6 8.0 8.0 NII, 0° C., 3 mm (kJ/m²) 9.0 10.3 9.9 9.1 6.8 6.8 NII, −30° C., 3 mm (kJ/m²) 7.0 8.1 8.1 8.5 4.5 4.5 MAI 23° C. ductility (%) 40 0 20 100 100 MAI 23° C. energy (J) 64.4 102 3.9 114 114 MAI 0° C. energy (J) 96 6.7 91 6.2 100 100 MAI −30° C. energy (J) 90 6.3 74 3.2 65 65 MVR, 300° C., 2.16 kg, 300 sec 17.1 14.8 9.5 15.7 19.4 19.4 (cm³/10 min) MVR was measured according to ISO1133; Vicat B120 was measured according to IS0306; HDT was measured according to ISO75; NII was measured according to ISO180; MAI was measured according to ISO6603.

Table 14 shows that impact modifier systems such as ABS/SAN, MBS/SAN, Bulk ABS and silicone acrylics were used to improve the impact/flow balance. Although it was possible to improve these properties, the metallization of molded parts based on these compositions were not acceptable (“NOK”).

TABLE 14 Composition 48 79 80 81 82 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 64 64 64 64 64 PC-3 (%) 18 30 21 21 16 PC-Si-2 (%) 18 Kane Ace MR02 (%) 6 ABS (%) 7 MBS, powder (%) 5 SAN (%) 8 10 Bulk ABS (%) 20 MVR 300° C./2.16 kg (300 s) 9 12 16 13 18 (ml/10° C.) MVR 300° C./2.16 kg (1080 s) 13 12 19 17 24 (ml/10° C.) MVR 330° C./2.16 kg (300 s) 33 34 56 49 81 (ml/10° C.) MV 300° C./1500 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 281 302 165 154 117 MV 300° C./5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 144 136 79 76 58 Vicat B120 (° C.) — — — — — HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 166 163 165 164 165 NII, 23° C. (kJ/m²) 31 25 17 22 13 NII, 0° C. (kJ/m²) 24 18 13 13 10 MAI energy at max. force, 104 87 125 120 105 23° C. (J) MAI, 23° C. ductility (%) 100 100 100 100 20 MAI energy at max. force, 101 65 100 107 99 0° C. (J) MAI, 0° C. ductility (%) 100 60 40 100 0 1.5 mm metallized plaques Visual inspection OK NOK NOK NOK NOK L* 10 73 25 24 40 Defect — Haze Haze Haze Haze MVR was measured according to ISO1133; Melt Viscosity was measured according to ISO11443; Vicat B120 was measured according to IS0306; HDT was measured according to ISO75; NII was measured according to ISO180; MAI was measured according to ISO6603.

The flow properties of PPPBP-PC compositions were also improved by lowering the molecular weight of the accompanying BPA polycarbonate resins in the blends. By implementation of this lower molecular weight polycarbonate resin approach, compositions were obtained that have improved impact properties.

Table 15 summarizes the compositions made by this approach, as well as their performance under a variety of experimental conditions. Replacing high molecular weight polycarbonate (PC-1) with lower molecular weight polycarbonate (PC-2, PC-3, or PC-7) improved flow properties, and heat properties were maintained relative to composition 42. Composition 43 showed a slight decrease in room temperature ductility, however, impact performance was improved or comparable to 42 for the remaining compositions. Decreasing the amount of PPPBP-PC-1 copolymer resulted in an improvement of flow properties accompanied by a worsening of heat properties (compositions 85 and 86). The opposite effect was observed when the amount of PPPBP-PC-1 was increased (compositions 87-89). These results also showed that incorporation of a lower molecular weight polycarbonate does not have an influence on metallization performance of the composition.

TABLE 15 Composition 42 83 43 84 85 86 87 88 89 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 60.0 60.0 68.0 68.0 72.0 PC-1 (%) 18.0 PC-2 (%) 17.6 35.6 39.6 31.6 PC-3 (%) 35.6 39.6 31.6 27.6 PC-7 (%) 35.6 Additives (%) 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 MV 300° C./1500 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 396 345 280 306 327 274 368 322 337 MV 300° C./5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 175 157 135 — 151 130 166 151 157 Vicat B120 (° C.) 173 173 171 168 171 169 175 173 176 HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 165 166 165 162 162 159 167 166 169 HDT, 1.8 MPa (° C.) 153 153 151 149 150 149 154 153 154 NII, 23° C. (kJ/m²) 10 10 9 9 10 10 10 9 9 NII, 0° C. (kJ/m²) 9 7 7 8 10 9 8 8 8 NII, −30° C. (kJ/m²) 7 8 6 5 6 6 7 5 6 MAI energy at max. force, 107 127 109 118 128 120 125 112 119 23° C. (J) MAI, 23° C. ductility (%) 100 100 60 100 100 100 100 90 100 MAI energy at max. force, 97 111 102 94 123 103 104 94 102 0° C. (J) MAI, 0° C. ductility (%) 0 0 0 0 80 0 0 0 0 Metallization test: 3.0 mm metallized plaques Passes haze onset test at 165 165 165 — 160 160 165 165 170 (° C.) Crosshatch adhesion test GT0 GT0 GT0 — GT0 GT0 GT0 GT0 GT0 (GT) Corrosion test; 10 d, 98% 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 rel. hum. (%) Metallization test: 1.5 mm metallized plaques Passes haze onset test at 160 160 160 — 155 155 165 160 165 (° C.) Crosshatch adhesion test GT0 GT0 GT0 — GT0 GT0 GT0 GT0 GT0 (GT) Corrosion test, 10 d, 98% 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 rel. hum. (%) Melt Viscosity was measured according to ISO11443; Vicat B120 was measured according to ISO306; HDT was measured according to ISO75; NII was measured according to ISO180; MAI was measured according to ISO6603.

Table 16 shows that an increase in melt flow was also achieved by the employment of lower molecular weight PPPBP-BPA copolymer (17 k or 20 k) in the blends. Compositions containing lower molecular weight PPPBP copolymer were evaluated in comparison to the corresponding compositions containing 23 k molecular weight PPPBP.

Impact properties of the lower molecular weight compositions are not adversely affected in comparison to composition 42, however, composition 97 showed a decrease in room temperature ductility. Taken together, these results demonstrated that by lowering the molecular weight of the PPPBP-PC copolymer, flow properties were improved and heat and impact properties were maintained. In addition, these results also demonstrated that replacing the higher molecular weight PC-1 with the lower molecular weight PC-2 or PC-3 improved flow properties (see trends of compositions 92-94 and 95-97).

TABLE 16 Composition 42 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 64.0 64.0 64.0 PPPBP-PC-2 (%) 64.0 64.0 64.0 PPPBP-PC-3 (%) 64.0 64.0 64.0 65.0 PC-1 (%) 18.0 35.6 35.6 35.6 PC-2 (%) 17.6 35.6 35.6 35.6 PC-3 (%) 35.6 35.6 PC-4 (%) 15.4 PC-6 (%) 19.2 Additives (%) 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 MV 300° C./1500 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 396 481 369 413 301 226 341 257 191 205 MV 300° C./5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 175 — 167 179 143 116 150 126 100 112 Vicat B120 (° C.) 173 173 172 172 170 169 171 170 168 172 HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 165 165 166 166 162 163 165 164 161 164 HDT, 1.8 MPa (° C.) 153 152 154 154 152 152 153 152 151 — NII, 23° C. (kJ/m²) 10 11 10 10 9 9 9 9 7 — NII, 0° C. (kJ/m²) 9 10 9 9 9 7 8 8 6 — NII, −30° C. (kJ/m²) 7 9 7 7 4 3 5 3 2 — MAI energy at max. force, 107 144 142 134 135 126 130 124 92 — 23° C. (J) MAI, 23° C. ductility (%) 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 20 — MAI energy at max. force, 97 116 90 117 126 122 122 187 110 — 0° C. (J) MAI 0° C. ductility (%) 0 20 0 0 20 0 20 0 0 — Metallization test: 1.5 mm metallized plaques Passes haze onset test at 160 165 160 165 160 160 165 160 160 160 (° C.) Crosshatch adhesion test GT0 GT0 GT0 GT0 GT0 GT0 GT0 GT0 GT0 GT0 (GT) Corrosion test, 10 d, 98% 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 rel. hum. (%) Melt Viscosity was measured according to ISO11443; Vicat B120 was measured according to ISO306; HDT was measured according to ISO75; NII was measured according to ISO180; MAI was measured according to ISO6603.

Table 17 shows the combination of PPPBP-PC-3 with a variety of polycarbonates and/or additives. The most significant flow increase without a concurrent loss of melt stability and heat capability was observed with compositions 101 and 102. These blends also maintained impact strength. Incorporation of PC-4 (100) resulted in the melt viscosity and flow unimproved—yet still improved compared to 1 (standard, MV=160 Pa*s under same conditions). Compositions including 65% of the PPPBP-PC-3 and 1-2% PBT (compositions 103-106) displayed poor melt stability, as demonstrated by the loss of 30-58% viscosity (at 316° C., 1800 seconds).

TABLE 17 Composition 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 PPPBP-PC-3 (%) 63.75 65.00 65.00 65.00 65.00 65.00 65.00 65.00 PC-4 (%) 15.38 34.61 15.38 33.61 32.61 PC-5 (%) 19.23 34.61 33.61 32.61 PC-6 (%) 19.23 PBT-1 1.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 PETS (%) 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 Phosphite Stab.; 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 Irgafos 168 (%) Hindered Phenol; 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 Irgafos 1076 (%) MVR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 54 43 71 66 52 81 83 98 (cm³/10 min) Melt vis, 316° C., 5000 s⁻¹ 111 128 100 103 120 98 88 85 (Pa-s) Tg (° C.) 172 175 171 172 172 168 168 165 MAI total energy (J) 78 77 69 72 75 64 70 71 MAI abusive total 67 74 68 65 67 71 63 65 energy (J) Viscosity Change −11 −14 −5 −10 −30 −58 −37 −53 316° C., 5000 s (%)

The performance properties of compositions 101 and 102 are shown in Table 18. These findings reinforced the previous results demonstrating that melt flow properties are improved when PPPBP-PC-1 is replaced with PPPBP-PC-3, and are further improved by blending with additional lower molecular weight polycarbonates. For example, a decrease in high shear melt viscosity was observed for compositions 99, 101, and 102 (111, 100, and 96 Pa-s, respectively) by blending lower molecular weight polycarbonates with PPPBP-PC-3. In addition, heat is unchanged as the glass transition temperatures of the blends are maintained at 171-172° C.

TABLE 18 Composition 99 101 102 HDT, 0.45 MPa, 3.2 mm (° C.) 163 163 Standard Molding Energy to max load-avg (J) 75 65 68 Energy to failure-avg (J) 78 69 72 MAI Energy, Total-avg (J) 78 72 69 Max Load-avg (kN) 7.6 7.3 7.3 Deflection at max load-avg (mm) 20.1 19.2 18.7 Ductility (%) 100 60 80 Abusive Molding Energy to max load-avg (J) 64 61 64 Energy to failure-avg (J) 67 65 68 MAI Energy, Total-avg (J) 67 65 68 Max Load-avg (kN) 7.1 6.9 7.1 Deflection at max load-avg (mm) 18.8 18.5 18.8 Ductility (%) 80 80 20 MFR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 73 83 (g/10 min) MVR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 54 66 71 (cm³/10 min) Melt vis @ 316° C., 5000 s⁻¹ 111 100 96 (Pa-s) Tg (° C.) 172 172 171

Table 19 shows that 101 and 102 passed the haze onset at 3.0 mm (165° C.), cross hatch adhesion, and corrosion tests for both natural and black materials. For 1.5 mm samples, a small mold defect appeared, and the sample of composition 101 with natural color had a small corrosion spot after 10 days of hydro aging.

TABLE 19 Composition 101 - 101 - 102 - 102 - Natural Black Natural Black 3.0 mm metallized plaques Haze onset at 160° C. (P/F) P P P P Haze onset at 160° C. (P/F) P P P P Haze onset at 160° C. (P/F) F F F F Cross hatch adhesion test (GT) GT0 GT0 GT0 GT0 Corrosion test 2 days at 98% humidity (P/F) P P P P 5 days at 98% humidity (P/F) P P P P 10 days at 98% humidity (P/F) P P P P 1.5 mm metallized plaques Haze onset at 160° C. (P/F) P P P P Haze onset at 165° C. (P/F) P P F P Haze onset at 170° C. (P/F) F F F F Cross hatch adhesion test (GT) GT0 GT0 GT0 GT0 Corrosion test 2 days at 98% humidity (P/F) P P P P 5 days at 98% humidity (P/F) P P P P 10 days at 98% humidity (P/F) 6% P P P

Further modification of compositions 101 and 102 was achieved by replacing the PPPBP-PC-3 with PPPBP-PC-2 in the blends. The performance properties of these blends are shown in Table 20. Impact properties (MAI) are maintained under both standard and abusive molding conditions while flow properties are improved (increased MVR, increased MFR, decreased high shear melt viscosity) compared to 1.

TABLE 20 Composition 106 107 108 PPPBP-PC-2 (%) 65 65 65 PC-4 (%) 15.38 15.38 PC-5 (%) 19.23 PC-6 (%) 34.61 19.23 PETS (%) 0.27 0.27 0.27 Phosphite Stab.; Irgafos 168 (%) 0.08 0.08 0.08 Hindered Phenol; Irgafos 1076 (%) 0.04 0.04 0.04 Standard Molding Energy to max load-avg (J) 70 68 70 Energy to failure-avg (J) 73 71 73 MAI Energy, Total-avg 23° C. (J) 73 71 73 MAI Energy, Total-avg 0° C. (J) 70 71 76 Max Load-Avg (kN) 7.4 7.2 7.3 Deflection at max load-avg (mm) 19.6 19.5 19.7 Ductility 23° C. (%) 100 100 100 Ductility 0° C. (%) 40 80 100 Abusive Molding Energy to max load-avg (J) 70 58 66 Energy to failure-avg (J) 73 60 70 MAI Energy, Total-avg 23° C. (J) 73 61 70 MAI Energy, Total-avg 0° C. (J) 70 74 69 Max Load-avg (kN) 7.4 6.2 7.2 Deflection at max load-avg (mm) 19.7 17 19.2 Ductility 23° C. (%) 80 60 80 Ductility 0° C. (%) 40 80 50 MVR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 41 49 50 (cm³/10 min) MFR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 42 54 57 (g/10 min) Melt vis, 316° C., 5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 133 124 120 Tg (° C.) 175 172 171 HDT (° C.) 165 165 165

Properties of blends with PPPBP-PC-1 and PPPBP-PC-4 are shown in Table 21. The decrease in mol % PPPBP in a copolymer of the same Mw did not result in significant changes in properties, showing that molecular weight is controlling melt flow properties. Melt flow rate did not increase when PPPBP-PC-1 was replaced with PPPBP-PC-4. Melt viscosity at 5000 s⁻¹ increased slightly to 166 Pa*s when PPPBP-PC-1 was replaced with PPPBP-PC-4. Heat deflection temperature and Tg did not change significantly when PPPBP-PC-1 was replaced with PPPBP-PC-4. Multi Axial Impact, Total Energy of 72-74 J and 100% ductility were maintained under standard molding conditions when PPPBP-PC-1 was replaced with PPPBP-PC-4. Multi Axial Impact, Total Energy of 74-75 J and 100% ductility were maintained under abusive molding conditions when PPPBP-PC-1 was replaced with PPPBP-PC-4.

TABLE 21 Composition 1 109 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 63.75 PPPBP-PC-4 (%) 63.75 PC-4 (%) 15.94 15.94 PC-5 (%) 19.92 19.92 PETS (%) 0.27 0.27 Phosphite Stab.; 0.08 0.08 Irgafos 168 (%) Hindered Phenol; 0.04 0.04 Irgafos 1076 (%) MFR, 330° C., 2.16 kg (g/10 min) 34 31 Melt, vis 316° C., 5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 162 166 HDT, (° C.) 168 167 Tg (° C.) 175 175 Standard Molding MAI Total Energy, 23° C. (J) 72 74 Ductility (%) 100 100 Abusive Molding MAI Total Energy, 23° C. (J) 75 74 Ductility (%) 100 100

Table 22 shows properties of blends with 45 wt % PPPBP-PC-3 and 55 wt % of polycarbonate components. The melt flow rate increased from 43 to 72 g/10 min when PPPBP-PC-1 was replaced with PPPBP-PC-3, and further increased to 93 g/10 min by blending with lower Mw BPA polycarbonate resins. The MVR increased from 40 cm³/10 min to 68 cm³/10 min when PPPBP-PC-1 was replaced with PPPBP-PC-3, and was further increased to 87-89 cm³/10 min by blending with lower Mw BPA polycarbonates. A decrease occurred in high shear melt viscosity (measured at 5000 s⁻¹) from 133 to 101 Pa-s with PPPBP-PC-3, and further decreased to 84-88 Pa-s in blends of PPPBP-PC-3 with lower Mw BPA polycarbonate. Tg was maintained at 165-167° C. for blends with PPPBP-PC-3, and 160-162° C. for blends with lower Mw polycarbonates. HDT was maintained at 154-155° C. for all blends with PPPBP-PC-3. Multi Axial Impact, Total Energy of 68-72 J and 100% ductility were maintained under standard molding conditions when PPPBP-PC-1 was replaced with PPPBP-PC-3.

TABLE 22 Composition 110 111 112 113 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 45 PPPBP-PC-3 (%) 45 45 45 PC-4 (%) 17.92 17.92 17.92 PC-5 (%) 36.86 36.86 54.78 PC-6 (%) 36.86 PETS (%) 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 Phosphite Stab.; 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 Irgafos 168 (%) Hindered Phenol; 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 Irgafos 1076 (%) MFR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 43 72 93 93 360 sec (g/10 min) MVR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 40 68 87 89 360 sec (cm³/10 min) Melt, vis 316° C., 133 101 84 88 5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) HDT, (° C.) 159 155 154 154 Tg, (° C.) 167 165 162 160 Standard Molding MAI Total Energy, 72 72 68 69 23° C. (J) Ductility (%) 100 100 100 100

Incorporation of hydroxyl-functionalized flow promoters, such as alkylene glycols (e.g., ethylene glycol, polymeric alkylene glycols, amine functionalized alkylene glycols) significantly improved the flow properties of the PPPBP-PC containing compositions at low loadings of the flow promoters. Implementation of this strategy to improve flow properties promoted the retention of properties such as thermal resistance and impact strength.

Tables 23 and 24 show that a variety of alkylene glycols (e.g., PEG, PPG, ethylene glycol) were shown to improve flow properties in a series of compositions. However, heat properties of these compositions decreased slightly in comparison to 42. A correlation between the molecular weight of PEG incorporated into the composition and the effectiveness of flow promotion was observed. The lower molecular weight PEG was more effective at improving the flow, whereas the higher molecular weight PEG showed less of an improvement. THAM is an additional flow promoter that also demonstrated the ability to improve flow properties of the PPPBP-PC compositions, while heat and impact performance properties were maintained (composition 128).

TABLE 23 Composition 42 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 PC-1 (%) 18.0 18.0 12.0 6.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 PC-2 (%) 17.6 17.1 23.1 29.1 35.6 16.8 16.6 17.1 17.1 PEG-1 (%) 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.8 1.0 PEG-2 (%) 0.5 0.8 Additives (%) 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 MV 300° C./1500 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 396 — — 251 — 283 241 302 255 MV 300° C./5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 175 149 150 129 — 138 121 — — Vicat B120 (° C.) 173 169 170 169 168 166 164 169 167 HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 165 163 163 163 162 159 157 163 162 HDT, 1.8 MPa (° C.) 153 150 149 149 150 147 145 151 149 NII, 23° C. (kJ/m²) 10 10 — — — 9 8 — — NII, 0° C. (kJ/m²) 9 9 — — — 7 7 — — NII, −30° C. (kJ/m²) 7 7 — — — 4 2 — — MAI energy at max. force, 107 134 133 121 — 115 126 — — 23° C. (J) MAI, 23° C. ductility (%) 100 100 100 100 — 80 60 — — MAI energy at max. force, 97 116 90 117 — 101 112 — — 0° C. (J) MAI, 0° C. ductility (%) 0 20 0 0 — 0 0 — — Metallization test: 3.0 mm metallized plaques Passes haze onset test at 165 160 — — — — 160 — — (° C.) Crosshatch adhesion test GT0 GT0 — — — — GT0 — — (GT) Corrosion test; 10 d, 98% 0 0 — — — — 0 — — rel. hum. (%) Metallization test: 1.5 mm metallized plaques Passes haze onset test at 160 160 — — — — 155 — — (° C.) Crosshatch adhesion test GT0 GT0 — — — — GT0 — — (GT) Corrosion test, 10 d, 98% 0 0 — — — — 0 — — rel. hum. (%) Melt Viscosity was measured according to ISO11443; Vicat B120 was measured according to ISO306; HDT was measured according to ISO75; NII was measured according to ISO180; MAI was measured according to ISO6603.

TABLE 24 Composition 42 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 PC-1 (%) 18.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 PC-2 (%) 17.6 17.1 16.8 17.1 16.8 17.1 16.8 17.5 17.6 17.6 PEG-3 (%) 0.5 0.8 PPG (%) 0.5 0.8 Ethylene glycol (%) 0.5 0.8 THAM (%) 0.07 0.1 0.25 Additives (%) 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 Melt viscosity MV 300° C./1500 s⁻¹ 396 306 260 347 333 236 186 234 218 115 (Pa-s) MV 300° C./5000 s⁻¹ 175 145 — 158 152 117 102 118 110 70 (Pa-s) Vicat B120 (° C.) 173 168 168 168 166 168 167 169 — — HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 165 163 162 163 160 163 162 164 — — HDT, 1.8 MPa (° C.) 153 150 149 151 149 149 149 150 — — NII, 23° C. (kJ/m²) 10 — — — — — — 9 — — NII, 0° C. (kJ/m²) 9 — — — — — — 7 — — NII, −30° C. (kJ/m²) 7 — — — — — — 4 — — MAI energy at max. 107 — — — — — — 123 — — force, 23° C. (J) MAI, 23° C. ductility (%) 100 — — — — — — 80 — — MAI energy at max. 97 — — — — — — 122 — — force, 0° C. (J) MAI, 0° C. ductility (%) 0 — — — — — — 0 — — Metallization test: 3.0 mm metallized plaques Passes haze onset test at 165 — — — — — 165 — (° C.) Crosshatch adhesion test GT0 — — — — — — GT0 — (GT) Corrosion test; 10 d, 98% 0 — — — — — — 0 — rel. hum. (%) Metallization test: 1.5 mm metallized plaques Passes haze onset test at 160 — — — — 165 — 160 — (° C.) Crosshatch adhesion test GT0 — — — — — — GT0 — (GT) Corrosion test, 10 d, 98% 0 — — — — — — 0 — rel. hum. (%) Melt Viscosity was measured according to ISO11443; Vicat B120 was measured according to ISO306; HDT was measured according to ISO75; NII was measured according to ISO180; MAI was measured according to ISO6603.

Table 25 demonstrates that the addition of PC-Si-2 copolymer to PPPBP-PC-1 compositions containing PEG-1 led to achievement of low temperature ductility while improving flow and maintaining impact strength (e.g., composition 136).

TABLE 25 Composition 42 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 PC-1 (%) 18.0 PC-2 (%) 17.6 18.0 18.0 16.8 18.0 18.0 18.0 PC-3 (%) 17.1 16.8 17.1 PC-Si-2 (%) 17.6 17.1 18.0 18.0 18.0 16.6 17.1 18.0 17.5 17.5 PEG-1 (%) 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.8 1.0 Ethylene Glycol (%) 0.5 0.5 THAM (%) 0.07 0.07 Additives (%) 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 Melt viscosity MV 300° C./1500 s⁻¹ 396 360 325 233 221 196 271 147 148 247 202 (Pa-s) MV 300° C./5000 s⁻¹ 175 165 150 117 116 107 130 85 83 134 103 (Pa-s) Vicat B120 (° C.) 173 173 168 169 167 168 165 169 169 170 171 HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 165 166 162 163 161 160 160 162 161 164 163 HDT, 1.8 MPa (° C.) 153 151 148 149 147 146 144 148 147 151 149 NII, 23° C. (kJ/m²) 10 33 36 37 36 36 35 31 30 33 31 NII, 0° C. (kJ/m²) 9 26 19 30 29 27 19 17 16 17 16 NII, −30° C. (kJ/m²) 7 16 15 17 18 17 13 11 12 14 13 MAI energy at max. 107 126 125 119 108 106 121 114 74 73 92 force, 23° C. (J) MAI, 23° C. ductility 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 (%) MAI energy at max. 97 115 135 83 93 90 112 89 82 73 94 force, 0° C. (J) MAI, 0° C. ductility (%) 0 100 100 100 100 100 100 80 60 100 100 MAI energy at max. 74 125 119 86 96 96 106 85 80 — 73 force, −30° C. (J) MAI −30° C. ductility 0 100 40 20 15 15 0 0 0 — 0 (%) Metallization test: 3.0 mm metallized plaques Passes haze onset test 165 — — — — — — — — — — at (° C.) Crosshatch adhesion GT0 — — — — — — — — — — test (GT) Corrosion test; 10 d, 0 — — — — — — — — — — 98% rel. hum. (%) Metallization test: 1.5 mm metallized plaques Passes haze onset test 160 — — — — — — — — — — at (° C.) Crosshatch adhesion GT0 — — — — — — — — — — test (GT) Corrosion test, 10 d, 0 — — — — — — — — — — 98% rel. hum. (%) Melt Viscosity was measured according to ISO11443; Vicat B120 was measured according to IS0306; HDT was measured according to ISO75; NII was measured according to ISO180; MAI was measured according to ISO6603.

Glycerol monosterate (GMS) is a further example of an alkylene alcohol derivative which also gave much improved flow in compositions containing high heat copolymers such as PPPBP-PC-1 (Table 26) and PC-8 (Table 27) and compositions containing PC-siloxane (Table 28). Compositions containing combinations of GMS and PETS or GT5 are even more beneficial for flow improvement.

TABLE 26 Composition 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 PC-1 (%) 18 18 18 PC-2 (%) 17 17 17 PC-3 (%) 17 17 17 17 PC-Si-2 (%) 18 18 18 18 PETS (%) 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.3 GTS palm based (%) 0.5 0.5 GMS (only Riken) (%) 0.5 0.5 Ethylene Glycol 0.5 Additives (%) 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 MVR 300° C./2.16 kg 10 11 20 9 12 23 24 (300 s) (ml/10° C.) MVR 300° C./2.16 kg 12 16 27 11 14 29 25 (1080 s) (ml/10° C.) MVR 330° C./2.16 kg 32 37 67 32 45 85 78 (300 s) (ml/10° C.) MV 300° C./1500 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 377 335 239 312 286 197 150 MV 300° C./5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 168 154 116 146 133 99 89 Vicat B120 (° C.) 171 168 167 172 169 165 167 HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 165 162 163 165 163 159 162 HDT, 1.8 MPa (° C.) — 150 151 — 152 146 149 NII, 23° C. (kJ/m²) 9 8 8 35 36 30 31 NII, 0° C. (kJ/m²) 9 8 8 26 21 17 14 NII, −30° C. (kJ/m²) — 6 4 — 15 12 13 MAI energy at max. force, 129 125 129 128 114 106 108 23° C. (J) MAI, 23° C. ductility (%) 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 MAI energy at max. force, — 109 101 — 99 91 89 0° C. (J) MAI, 0° C. ductility (%) — 20 0 — 100 100 80 Melt Viscosity was measured according to ISO11443; Vicat B120 was measured according to IS0306; HDT was measured according to ISO75; NII was measured according to ISO180; MAI was measured according to ISO6603.

TABLE 27 Composition 148 149 150 151 152 PC-8 (%) 65 65 65 65 65 PC-2 (%) 35 34 35 29 28 PC-Si-2 (%) 6 6 GMS (only Riken) (%) 0.5 0.5 THAM 0.07 0.5 MVR 300° C./2.16 kg — — — — — (300 s) (ml/10° C.) MVR 300° C./2.16 kg (1080 s) — — — — — (ml/10° C.) MVR 330° C./2.16 kg — — — — — (300 s) (ml/10° C.) MV 300° C./1500 s⁻¹ 286 194 195 368 309 (Pa-s) MV 300° C./5000 s⁻¹ 145 113 114 167 138 (Pa-s) Vicat B120 (° C.) 166 161 163 165 161 HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 158 154 156 158 153 NII, 23° C. (kJ/m²) 6 6 6 9 7 NII, 0° C. (kJ/m²) 7 6 6 8 8 NII, −30° C. (kJ/m²) 6 6 6 8 7 MAI energy at max. force, 100 133 126 144 148 23° C. (J) MAI, 23° C. ductility (%) 100 100 100 100 100 MAI energy at max. force, 93 124 116 112 113 0° C. (J) MAI energy at max. force - 11.5 7 13 9.8 11 standard dev. Deflection at break, 0° C. 17 19 18 18 18 (mm) Deflection at break - 1.1 0.6 1.1 0.8 1 standard dev. MAI, 0° C. ductility (%) 100 100 100 100 100 MVR was measured according to ISO1133; Melt Viscosity was measured according to ISO11443; Vicat B120 was measured according to IS0306; HDT was measured according to ISO75; NII was measured according to ISO180; MAI was measured according to ISO6603.

TABLE 28 Composition 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 PC-3 (%) 30 29 29 29 30 30 30 29 PC-Si-2 (%) 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 Palmitic/Stearic Acid 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 — — (50/50) ester of dipenta/ pentaerythritol (%) GMS (only Riken) (%) 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 MVR 300° C./2.16 kg — — — — — — — — (300 s) (ml/10° C.) MVR 300° C./2.16 kg — — — — — — — — (1080 s) (ml/10° C.) MVR 330° C./2.16 kg — — — — — — — — (300 s) (ml/10° C.) MV 300° C./1500 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 299 207 254 257 290 294 289 288 Vicat B120 (° C.) 172 168 169 168 171 172 171 170 HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 164 161 161 160 164 164 163 162 HDT, 1.8 MPa (° C.) 151 150 149 148 151 151 150 150 NII, 23° C. (kJ/m²) 10 10 12 10 14 13 11 13 NII, 0° C. (kJ/m²) 12 11 11 12 11 12 12 11 MAI energy at max. force, 124 112 86 106 123 127 117 123 23° C. (J) MAI, 23° C. ductility (%) 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 80 MVR was measured according to ISO1133; Melt Viscosity was measured according to ISO11443; Vicat B120 was measured according to IS0306; HDT was measured according to ISO75; NII was measured according to ISO180; MAI was measured according to ISO6603.

Table 29 demonstrates that bisphenol-A can also be used as a flow promoter.

TABLE 29 Composition 161 162 163 164 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 64 64 64 64 PC-1 (%) 18 18 PC-2 (%) 17 17 PC-3 (%) 17 17 PC-Si-2 (%) 18 18 Bisphenol-A (%) 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.5 MV 300° C./1500 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) 259 212 206 184 Vicat B120 (° C.) 172 171 174 172 HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 164 163 164 165 HDT, 1.8 MPa (° C.) 152 151 149 149 NII, 23° C. (kJ/m²) 8 8 32 30 NII, 0° C. (kJ/m²) 8 8 23 22 MAI energy at max. force, 128 121 99 108 23° C. (J) MAI, 23° C. ductility (%) 100 100 100 100 Melt Viscosity was measured according to ISO11443; Vicat B120 was measured according to IS0306; HDT was measured according to ISO75; NII was measured according to ISO180; MAI was measured according to ISO6603.

While polyester additives are effective at increasing the melt flow rate of PPPBP-PC blends (Tables 2-8), the melt stabilities of these blends were limited at typical high heat polycarbonate processing temperatures. To improve the stability of these blends at high heat and to avoid discoloration, compositions that incorporate alternative stabilizer packages were developed.

Variant compositions of 26 with alternative stabilizer packages were prepared (Table 30). The stabilizers used for the compositions include PEPQ (higher Mw phosphite stabilizer), MZP (acid quencher), and phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄). Additionally, in some formulations, hindered phenol stabilizer was removed or replaced with hydroxyl octaphenyl benzotriazole.

The compositions were prepared by powder to pellet conversion and compounding through the use of a single screw lab line. All ingredients were tumble-blended prior to compounding and fed using a single feeder to the extruder. Standard injection molding was done at 580° F. with a 35 s cycle time. Abusive molding was done at 580° F. with a 120 s cycle time.

The compositions containing PEPQ (compositions 165-170) in place of the standard stabilizer package of 26 showed a significant decrease in Yellowness Index (YI). These compositions also maintained high flow and similar heat (Tg/HDT) and impact properties in comparison to 26. However, there was no improvement in melt stability (parallel plate viscosity change after 1800 s).

TABLE 30 Composition 26 165 166 167 168 169 170 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 85.0 85.0 85.0 85.0 85.0 85.0 85.0 PC-6 (%) 9.61 9.53 9.58 9.33 9.53 9.58 9.33 PBT-1 (%) 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 PETS (%) 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 Phosphite Stab.; 0.08 Irgafos 168 (%) Hindered Phenol; 0.04 0.05 Irgafos 1076 (%) MZP (%) 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 H₃PO₄ (%) 0.05 0.05 PEPQ (%) 0.15 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 Hydroxyl octaphenyl 0.25 0.25 benzotriazole (%) MVR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 60 55 49 57 55 51 50 360 sec (cm³/10 min) MFR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 61 60 53 61 57 55 54 360 sec (g/10 min) Melt, vis 316° C., 122 116 117 114 111 114 115 5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) Tg (° C.) 172 176 172 172 172 172 171 Parallel Plate Viscosity −49 −50 −47 −52 −51 −48 −49 Change; 300° C. (%) Parallel Plate Viscosity −77 −72 −72 −75 −76 −74 −77 Change; 316° C. (%) YI (avg) 8.5 3.6 3.4 3.9 3.3 3.3 3.8 YI (SD) 0.06 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 % T 87.6 88.5 88.5 88.6 88.6 88.8 88.8 MAI Energy total (J) 63 63 63 65 60 64 67 HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 162 161 164 162 161 161 161 NII 23° C., 2 lb/ft (J/m) 79 73 70 72 76 76 74

Table 31 shows additional stabilizer packages that were investigated. A thioester antioxidant, pentaerythritol tetrakis-(3-dodecylthiopropionate), was employed as a stabilizer in conjunction with PEPQ and/or MZP in a modification of 26. Table 31 highlights that the YI was again significantly improved in all compositions containing PEPQ. The addition of pentaerythritol tetrakis-(3-dodecylthiopropionate) also improved YI, but less significantly. The compositions containing pentaerythritol tetrakis-(3-dodecylthiopropionate) (compositions 171-174) resulted in decreased flow, but improved melt stabilities (parallel plate viscosity change). Heat was maintained in all compositions, although a decrease in MAI energy was observed with the addition of MZP (173) or a higher loading of PEPQ (174).

TABLE 31 Composition 26 171 172 173 174 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 85.0 85.0 85.0 85.0 85.0 PC-6 (%) 9.61 9.56 9.54 9.52 9.49 PBT-1 (%) 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 PETS (%) 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 Phosphite Stab.; 0.08 0.08 Irgafos 168 (%) Hindered Phenol; 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 Irgafos 1076 (%) MZP (%) 0.02 PEPQ (%) 0.10 0.10 0.15 Seenox 412S (%) 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 Melt density, 330° C., 0.86 1.02 1.08 1.07 1.05 2.17 kg (g/cm³) MVR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 66 61 42 46 42 360 sec (cm³/10 min) MFR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 57 62 45 49 44 360 sec (g/10 min) Melt, vis 316° C., 121 118 129 126 130 5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) Tg (° C.) 175 175 175 175 175 Parallel Plate Viscosity −59 −57 −49 −42 −44 Change; 300° C. (%) Parallel Plate Viscosity −84 −82 −75 −69 −72 Change; 316° C. (%) YI (avg) 10.3 8.5 5.2 3.6 3.9 % T 86.1 87.2 87.9 88.3 88.8 MAI Energy total 58.7 57.5 55.4 41 45.6 (standard) (J) Ductility (%) 40 40 40 20 20 MAI Energy total 53.6 45.4 28.9 42.2 49.6 (abusive) (J) Ductility (%) 20 0 20 20 40 HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 162 164 163 163 164 NII 23° C., 2 lb/ft (J/m) 62 66 58 65 65

Selected stabilizer packages from the experiments above were also evaluated in compositions containing 5% PET (Table 32). The experimental results of these PET containing blends incorporating PEPQ were in contrast to the results of the PBT containing blends of Table 31. All compositions containing 5% PET lost transparency (% T dropped from 88% to 66-74%) and had decreased flow (melt viscosity increased to 137-148 Pa-s). However, Tg increased to 185-188° C., and melt stability improved, especially with PEPQ/pentaerythritol tetrakis-(3-dodecylthiopropionate) combinations (compositions 179 and 180). Comparison of compositions 178 and 179 suggested that MZP aids in the reduction of haziness (increase in % T from 65 to 75%). This effect was also observed when comparing compositions 179 (PEPQ/pentaerythritol tetrakis-(3-dodecylthiopropionate)) and 180 (PEPQ/pentaerythritol tetrakis-(3-dodecylthiopropionate)/MZP), although the effect is much less pronounced in the presence of pentaerythritol tetrakis-(3-dodecylthiopropionate).

TABLE 32 Composition 26 175 176 177 178 179 180 PPPBP-PC-1 (%) 85.0 85.0 85.0 85.0 85.0 85.0 85.0 PC-6 (%) 9.61 9.61 9.54 9.59 9.57 9.54 9.52 PBT-1 (%) 5.0 PET-1 (%) 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 PETS (%) 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 Phosphite Stab.; 0.08 0.08 Irgafos 168 (%) Hindered Phenol; 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 Irgafos 1076 (%) MZP (%) 0.02 0.02 PEPQ (%) 0.15 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 Seenox 412S (%) 0.05 0.05 MVR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 56 33 30 32 34 29 32 (cm³/10 min) MFR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 62 36 32 33 37 31 34 (g/10 min) Melt, vis 316° C., 127 143 143 144 137 148 144 5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) Tg (° C.) 175 188 187 188 186 185 185 Parallel Plate Viscosity Change; −55 −28 −28 −26 −46 −20 −17 300° C. (%) Parallel Plate Viscosity Change; −82 −55 −53 −54 −56 −41 −38 316° C. (%) YI (avg) 8.0 16.7 14.1 16.4 13.6 17.3 16.2 % T 87.7 72.0 74.0 64.8 74.5 64.7 66.4 MAI Energy total (standard) (J) 67 66 63 72 70 68 71 Ductility (%) 0 20 40 20 40 20 60 MAI Energy total (abusive) (J) 56 58 67 67 70 64 68 Ductility (%) 20 0 20 40 20 20 60 HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 165 171 171 172 168 63 170 NII, 23° C. (J/m) 69 69 72 71 75 170 72

Copolyesters PCCD and PCTG were incorporated into PPPBP-PC containing compositions. The blends were made as a mixture of PPPBP-PC-3 with either PC-5 or a combination of PC-4 and PC-6 (Table 33). A pronounced anti-yellowing effect of PEPQ was also observed in this set of compositions. Comparison of compositions 181 (5% PCCD with standard stabilizer) and 182 (5% PCCD with PEPQ) or 184 (5% PCTG with standard stabilizer) and 185 (5% PCTG with PEPQ) demonstrated that PEPQ caused a significant decrease in YI in both PCCD and PCTG blends.

The flow properties of these blends were further improved in comparison to 101, but addition of the polyesters caused a decrease in Tg, HDT and melt stability. However, due to the higher heat stability of PCTG and PCCD, the decreases in these properties were less than that observed with 5% PBT (Tables 30 and 31). In addition, the PPPBP-PC-3 copolymer content was maintained at 65%, while the compositions that contain PBT required 85% of the PPPBP-PC-1 copolymer. In addition, the PPPBP-PC-3 containing blends showed an improvement in melt stability.

TABLE 33 Composition 101 181 182 183 184 185 186 PPPBP-PC-3 (%) 65.0 65.0 65.0 65.0 65.0 65.0 65.0 PC-4 (%) 13.18 13.18 PC-5 (%) 34.61 29.61 29.53 29.61 29.53 PC-6 (%) 16.43 16.43 PCCD (%) 5.0 5.0 5.0 PCTG, 80% CHDM (%) 5.0 5.0 5.0 PETS (%) 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 Phosphite Stab.; 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 Irgafos 168 (%) Hindered Phenol; 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.04 Irgafos 1076 (%) MZP (%) 0.05 0.05 PEPQ (%) 0.10 0.10 MVR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 71 97 114 82 94 117 84 (cm³/10 min) MFR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 76 101 122 87 101 129 93 (g/10 min) Melt, vis 316° C., 97 83 78 94 87 84 89 5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) Tg (° C.) 171 163 167 162 168 165 168 Parallel Plate Viscosity Change; −2 −39 −44 −25 −51 −46 −48 316° C. (%) YI (avg) 4.1 6.9 3.7 4.8 5.8 3.4 5.3 Haze 1.1 0.6 1.2 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.5 MAI Energy total (standard) (J) 64 64 61 66 63 68 66 Ductility (%) 70 70 50 100 80 20 70 HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 162 155 155 156 157 156 158

Decreased amounts of polyester flow aids (1-2% PBT, PET, PCCD, PCTG) were employed to modify the blend including PPPBP-PC-3 and PC-5 (101). As shown in Table 34, a decrease in melt viscosity was observed in all compositions composed of PEPQ and/or 1-2% of the polyester flow aids. The greatest flow improvement was observed with 1% PBT/1% PET (189), although this also resulted in the greatest decrease in melt stability. Incorporation of PEPQ caused a slight decrease in viscosity and melt stability even without the addition of any polyesters. These results demonstrated that PPPBP-PC-3 combined with small amounts of flow aid(s) maintained a low YI and resulted in a greater flow increase than with just PPPBP-PC-3 alone.

TABLE 34 Composition 101 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 PPPBP-PC-3 (%) 65.0 65.0 65.0 65.0 65.0 65.0 65.0 65.0 PC-5 (%) 34.61 34.53 33.53 32.53 32.61 32.53 32.61 32.53 PBT-1 (%) 1.0 1.0 PET-1 (%) 1.0 PCCD (%) 2.0 2.0 PCTG, 80% CHDM (%) 2.0 2.0 PETS (%) 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 Phosphite Stab.; 0.08 0.08 0.08 Irgafos 168 (%) Hindered Phenol; 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.05 Irgafos 1076 (%) MZP (%) 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 PEPQ (%) 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 Melt density, 330° C., 2.17 kg 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 (g/cm³) MVR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 70 99 98 109 84 104 78 104 (cm³/10 min) MFR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 73 106 90 114 84 113 85 109 (g/10 min) Melt vis 316° C., 99 86 86 81 96 83 95 83 5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) Tg (° C.) 171 171 171 168 168 168 171 168 Parallel Plate Viscosity Change; 4 −14 −32 −46 −9 −27 −20 −34 316° C. (%) YI (avg) 4.4 4.2 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.5 4.0 3.5 Haze 1.0 1.7 1.2 1.0 0.7 1.0 0.7 0.9 MAI Energy total (standard) (J) 66 66 62 62 57 65 68 66 Ductility (%) 90 10 40 33 60 40 70 30 HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 164 164 160 155 159 158 160 158

Decreased amounts of polyester flow aids (1-2% PBT, PET, PCCD, PCTG) were also were employed to modify the blends including PPPBP-PC-3 and a mixture of PC-4 and PC-6 (102). As shown in Table 35, melt viscosity is decreased in all compositions with PEPQ and/or 1-2% of the polyester flow aids. Again, the greatest flow improvement was with 1% PBT/1% PET (196), although this also resulted in the greatest decrease in melt stability. Incorporation of PEPQ caused a slight decrease in viscosity and melt stability even without the addition of any polyesters. As in the blends with PC-5, the PPPBP-PC-3 combined with small amounts of flow aid(s) maintained a low YI and resulted in a greater flow increase than with just PPPBP-PC-3 alone. These compositions also demonstrated less influence on melt stability than by the addition of increased amounts of flow aid.

TABLE 35 Composition 102 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 PPPBP-PC-3 (%) 65.0 65.0 65.0 65.0 65.0 65.0 65.0 65.0 PC-4 (%) 15.38 15.34 14.89 14.44 14.48 14.44 14.48 14.44 PC-6 (%) 19.23 19.19 18.64 18.09 18.13 18.09 18.13 18.09 PBT-1 (%) 1.0 1.0 PET-1 (%) 1.0 PCCD (%) 2.0 2.0 PCTG, 80% CHDM (%) 2.0 2.0 PETS (%) 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 Phosphite Stab.; 0.08 0.08 0.08 Irgafos 168 (%) Hindered Phenol; 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.05 Irgafos 1076 (%) MZP (%) 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 PEPQ (%) 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 Melt density, 330° C., 2.17 kg 0.91 1.07 0.9 1.12 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.0 (g/cm³) MVR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 87 109 131 120 83 116 91 115 (cm³/10 min) MFR, 330° C., 2.16 kg, 360 sec 75 114 108 138 90 120 95 110 (g/10 min) Melt vis 316° C., 110 80 78 75 91 77 88 79 5000 s⁻¹ (Pa-s) Tg (° C.) 171 171 168 165 168 164 168 168 Parallel Plate Viscosity Change; −1 −18 −33 −46 −14 −30 −25 −37 316° C. (%) YI (avg) 3.8 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.8 3.5 3.9 3.3 Haze 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.0 0.7 1.0 0.6 0.9 MAI Energy total (standard) (J) 61 61 47 54 54 58 58 46 Ductility (%) 60 40 20 20 50 33 66 40 HDT, 0.45 MPa (° C.) 160 158 157 155 158 157 158 159

Set forth below are some embodiments of the articles disclosed herein.

Embodiment 1

A metallized article (e.g., a metallized bezel) comprising a thermoplastic composition comprising: (a) a first polycarbonate that includes structural units derived from at least one of:

wherein R^(a) and R^(b) at each occurrence are each independently halogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy; p and q at each occurrence are each independently 0 to 4; R¹³ at each occurrence is independently a halogen or a C₁-C₆ alkyl group; c at each occurrence is independently 0 to 4; R¹⁴ at each occurrence is independently a C₁-C₆ alkyl, phenyl, or phenyl substituted with up to five halogens or C₁-C₆ alkyl groups; R^(g) at each occurrence is independently C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or halogen, or two R^(g) groups together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a four-, five, or six-membered cycloalkyl group; t is 0 to 10; and x:y is 1:99 to 99:1; (b) a second polycarbonate that is a Bisphenol A (BPA) polycarbonate having a Mw of 17,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] to 40,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; (c) optionally a third polycarbonate that is a BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 17,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] to 40,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; provided the third polycarbonate is different from the second polycarbonate; and (d) optionally a first polyester of formula

wherein T at each occurrence is independently selected from a divalent aliphatic radical, a divalent alicyclic radical, a divalent aromatic radical, and a polyoxyalkylene radical; D at each occurrence is independently selected from a divalent aliphatic radical, a divalent alicyclic radical, and a divalent aromatic radical; and m is an integer selected from 25 to 1000; wherein the composition has a heat deflection temperature of at least 155° C., measured at 0.45 MPa in accordance with ASTM D 648 or ISO 75; wherein the composition has a melt viscosity of less than 395 Pa·s, measured in accordance with ISO 11443 at 300° C. at a shear rate of 1500 s⁻¹; wherein the first polycarbonate has a Mw of 15,500 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] to 23,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol].

Embodiment 2

The article of Embodiment 1, wherein the article has one or more of the following properties: a minimum haze onset temperature of 150° C.; achieves a GT0 metal adhesion rating when measured in accordance with ASTM 3359/ISO 2409; and exhibits 0% corrosion when stored for 240 hours at 98% relative humidity at 40° C., in accordance with DIN 50017.

Embodiment 3

The article of Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, wherein the first polycarbonate comprises at least 18 mol % structural units derived from BPA, and has a Tg of at least 170° C.

Embodiment 4

The article of any one of Embodiments 1-3, wherein the first polycarbonate comprises 31 mol % to 35 mol % structural units derived from PPPBP.

Embodiment 5

The article of any one of Embodiments 1-4, wherein the first polycarbonate has a Mw of greater than 15,500 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] and less than 23,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] (e.g., 16,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] to 20,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], or 17,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] to 20,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol]).

Embodiment 6

The article of any one of Embodiments 1-5, wherein the first polycarbonate is selected from: a para-cumylphenol end-capped polycarbonate comprising structural units derived from PPPBP and BPA, having a Mw of 20,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; a para-cumylphenol end-capped polycarbonate comprising structural units derived from PPPBP and BPA, having a Mw of 18,500 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; and a para-cumylphenol end-capped polycarbonate comprising structural units derived from PPPBP and BPA, having a Mw of 17,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards.

Embodiment 7

The article of any one of Embodiments 1-6, wherein the second polycarbonate and the third polycarbonate are each independently selected from: a Bisphenol A (BPA) polycarbonate having a Mw of 17,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] to 22,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; and a BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 29,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] to 30,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards.

Embodiment 8

The article of any one of Embodiments 1-7, wherein the second polycarbonate and the third polycarbonate are each independently selected from: a PCP end-capped linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 18,200 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; a PCP end-capped linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 18,800 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; a linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 21,700 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; a phenol end-capped linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 21,800 g/mol as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; a PCP end-capped linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 21,900 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; a PCP end-capped linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 29,900 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; and a phenol end-capped linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 30,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards.

Embodiment 9

The article of any one of Embodiments 1-8, wherein the first polyester is selected from poly(ethylene terephthalate) (“PET”); poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate) (“PBT”); poly(ethylene naphthanoate) (“PEN”); poly(butylene naphthanoate) (“PBN”); poly(propylene terephthalate) (“PPT”); poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene) terephthalate (“PCT”); poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene 1,4-cyclohexandicarboxylate) (“PCCD”); poly(cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) glycol (“PCTG”); poly(ethylene terephthalate) glycol (“PETG”); and poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate-co-isophthalate) (“PCTA”).

Embodiment 10

The article of any one of Embodiments 1-9, wherein the composition comprises: 40 wt % to 85 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 15 wt % to 60 wt % of the second polycarbonate; optionally 15 wt % to 45 wt % of the third polycarbonate; and optionally 0.5 wt % to 10 wt % of the first polyester; provided that the combined wt % value of all components does not exceed 100 wt %.

Embodiment 11

The article according to any one of Embodiments 1-10, wherein the composition is selected from the group consisting of (1) to (12): (1) a composition comprising 63.75 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 15.38 wt % of the second polycarbonate; 19.23 wt % of the third polycarbonate; 0.27 wt % of pentaerythritol tetrastearate; 0.08 wt % of phosphite stabilizer; and 0.04 wt % of hindered phenol; (2) a composition comprising 65.00 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 34.61 wt % of the second polycarbonate; 0.27 wt % of pentaerythritol tetrastearate; 0.08 wt % of phosphite stabilizer; and 0.04 wt % of hindered phenol; (3) a composition comprising 65.00 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 15.38 wt % of the second polycarbonate; 19.23 wt % of the third polycarbonate; 0.27 wt % of pentaerythritol tetrastearate; 0.08 wt % of phosphite stabilizer; and 0.04 wt % of hindered phenol; (4) a composition comprising 64.0 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 35.6 wt % of the second polycarbonate; and 0.4 wt % of additives; (5) a composition comprising 65.0 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 19.2 wt % of the second polycarbonate; 15.4 wt % of the third polycarbonate; and 0.4 wt % of additives; (6) a composition comprising 65.00 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 29.61 wt % of the second polycarbonate; 5.00 wt % of the first polyester; 0.27 wt % of pentaerythritol tetrastearate; 0.08 wt % of phosphite stabilizer; and 0.04 wt % of hindered phenol; (7) a composition comprising 65.00 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 13.18 wt % of the second polycarbonate; 16.43 wt % of the third polycarbonate; 5.00 wt % of the first polyester; 0.27 wt % of pentaerythritol tetrastearate; 0.08 wt % of phosphite stabilizer; and 0.04 wt % of hindered phenol; (8) a composition comprising 65.00 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 32.61 wt % of the second polycarbonate; 2.00 wt % of the first polyester; 0.27 wt % of pentaerythritol tetrastearate; 0.08 wt % of phosphite stabilizer; and 0.04 wt % of hindered phenol; (9) a composition comprising 65.00 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 33.61 wt % of the second polycarbonate; 1.00 wt % of the first polyester; 0.27 wt % of pentaerythritol tetrastearate; 0.08 wt % of phosphite stabilizer; and 0.04 wt % of hindered phenol; (10) a composition comprising 65.00 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 14.48 wt % of the second polycarbonate; 18.13 wt % of the third polyester; 2.00 wt % of the first polyester; 0.27 wt % of pentaerythritol tetrastearate; 0.08 wt % of phosphite stabilizer; and 0.04 wt % of hindered phenol; (11) a composition comprising 44.83 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 17.92 wt % of the second polycarbonate; 36.86 wt % of the third polycarbonate; 0.27 wt % of pentaerythritol tetrastearate; 0.08 wt % of phosphite stabilizer; and 0.04 wt % of hindered phenol; and (12) a composition comprising 44.83 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 54.78 wt % of the second polycarbonate; 0.27 wt % of pentaerythritol tetrastearate; 0.08 wt % of phosphite stabilizer; and 0.04 wt % of hindered phenol.

Embodiment 12

The article of any one of Embodiments 1-11, wherein a molded sample of the composition has at least 60% ductility, at least 80% ductility, or at least 100% ductility in a multi-axial impact test at 23° C., measured in accordance with ASTM D3763 or ISO 6603; wherein the composition has a heat deflection temperature of at least 160° C. or at least 165° C., measured at 0.45 MPa in accordance with ASTM D 648 or ISO 75; wherein the composition has a heat deflection temperature of at least 150° C., measured at 1.8 MPa in accordance with ASTM D 648 or ISO 75; or wherein the composition has a melt viscosity of less than 275 Pa·s, measured in accordance with ISO 11443 at 316° C. at a shear rate of 1500 s⁻¹.

Embodiment 13

The article of any one of Embodiments 1-12, wherein a 3.0 mm plaque comprising the composition, metallized with a 100 nm to 150 nm thick aluminum layer using a physical vapor deposition process, and protected with a plasma-deposited siloxane hard-coat of 50 nm, has a minimum haze onset temperature of 150° C.

Embodiment 14

The article of Embodiment 13, wherein the plaque has a minimum haze onset temperature of 165° C.; wherein the plaque achieves a GT0 metal adhesion rating when measured in accordance with ASTM 3359/ISO 2409; or wherein the plaque exhibits 0% corrosion when stored for 240 hours at 98% relative humidity at 40° C., in accordance with DIN 50017.

Embodiment 15

The article of any one of Embodiments 1-12, wherein a 1.5 mm plaque comprising the composition, metallized with a 100 nm to 150 nm thick aluminum layer using a physical vapor deposition process, and protected with a plasma-deposited siloxane hard-coat of 50 nm, has a minimum haze onset temperature of 150° C.

Embodiment 16

The article of Embodiment 15, wherein the plaque has a minimum haze onset temperature of 155° C.; wherein the plaque achieves a GT0 metal adhesion rating when measured in accordance with ASTM 3359/ISO 2409; wherein the plaque exhibits 0% corrosion when stored for 120 hours at 98% relative humidity at 40° C., in accordance with DIN 50017; or wherein the plaque exhibits 0% corrosion when stored for 240 hours at 98% relative humidity at 40° C., in accordance with DIN 50017.

Embodiment 17

The article of any one of Embodiments 1-16, wherein a metallized part comprising the composition has an L* of 20 or less or 15 or less, when measured using a spectrophotometer in reflection mode with specular light excluded.

Embodiment 18

The article of any one of Embodiments 1-17, selected from instrument panels, overhead consoles, interior trim, center consoles, panels, quarter panels, rocker panels, trim, fenders, doors, deck lids, trunk lids, hoods, bonnets, roofs, bumpers, fascia, grilles, minor housings, pillar appliqués, cladding, body side moldings, wheel covers, hubcaps, door handles, spoilers, window frames, headlamp bezels, headlamps, tail lamps, tail lamp housings, tail lamp bezels, license plate enclosures, roof racks, circuit breakers, electrical and electronic housings, and running boards, or any combination thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A metallized article comprising a metallized surface and a thermoplastic composition comprising: (a) a first polycarbonate that includes structural units derived from at least one of:

wherein R^(a) and R^(b) at each occurrence are each independently halogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy; p and q at each occurrence are each independently 0 to 4; R¹³ at each occurrence is independently a halogen or a C₁-C₆ alkyl group; c at each occurrence is independently 0 to 4; R¹⁴ at each occurrence is independently a C₁-C₆ alkyl, phenyl, or phenyl substituted with up to five halogens or C₁-C₆ alkyl groups; R^(g) at each occurrence is independently C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or halogen, or two R^(g) groups together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a four-, five-, or six-membered cycloalkyl group; t is 0 to 10; and x:y is 1:99 to 99:1, the first polycarbonate having a Mw of 16,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] to 20,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using polycarbonate standards; (b) 15 to 60 wt % of a second polycarbonate that is a Bisphenol A (BPA) polycarbonate having a Mw of greater than 19,800 g/mol to 40,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; (c) optionally 15 wt % to 45 wt % of a third polycarbonate that is a BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 17,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] to 40,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; provided the third polycarbonate is different from the second polycarbonate; and (d) 0.5 wt % to 10 wt % of a first polyester of formula

wherein T at each occurrence is independently selected from a divalent aliphatic radical, a divalent alicyclic radical, a divalent aromatic radical, and a polyoxyalkylene radical; D at each occurrence is independently selected from a divalent aliphatic radical, a divalent alicyclic radical, and a divalent aromatic radical; and m is an integer selected from 25 to 1000; provided that the combined wt % value of all components does not exceed 100 wt %; wherein the composition has a heat deflection temperature of at least 155° C., measured at 0.45 MPa in accordance with ASTM D 648 or ISO 75; wherein the composition has a melt viscosity of less than 395 Pa s, measured in accordance with ISO 11443 at 300° C. at a shear rate of 1500 s¹; wherein a molded sample of the composition has at least 60% ductility in a multi-axial impact test at 23° C., measured in accordance with ASTM D3763 or ISO 6603; and wherein the article achieves a GT0 metal adhesion rating when measured in accordance with ASTM 3359/ISO
 2409. 2. The metallized article of claim 1, wherein the article has one or more of the following properties: a minimum haze onset temperature of 150° C.; and exhibits 0% corrosion when stored for 240 hours at 98% relative humidity at 40° C., in accordance with DIN
 50017. 3. The metallized article of claim 1, wherein the first polycarbonate comprises at least 18 mol % structural units derived from BPA, and has a Tg of at least 170° C.
 4. The metallized article of claim 1, wherein the first polycarbonate comprises 31 mol % to 35 mol % structural units derived from PPPBP.
 5. The metallized article of claim 1, wherein the first polycarbonate has a Mw of greater than 17,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] and less than 20,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using polycarbonate standards.
 6. The metallized article of claim 5, wherein the article has one or more of the following properties: a minimum haze onset temperature of 150° C.; and exhibits 0% corrosion when stored for 240 hours at 98% relative humidity at 40° C., in accordance with DIN
 50017. 7. The metallized article of claim 5, wherein the first polycarbonate comprises at least 18 mol % structural units derived from BPA, and has a Tg of at least 170° C.
 8. The metallized article of claim 5, wherein the first polycarbonate comprises 31 mol % to 35 mol % structural units derived from PPPBP.
 9. The metallized article of claim 1, wherein the first polycarbonate is selected from: a para-cumylphenol end-capped polycarbonate comprising structural units derived from PPPBP and BPA, having a Mw of 20,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; a para-cumylphenol end-capped polycarbonate comprising structural units derived from PPPBP and BPA, having a Mw of 18,500 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; and a para-cumylphenol end-capped polycarbonate comprising structural units derived from PPPBP and BPA, having a Mw of 17,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards.
 10. The metallized article of claim 1, wherein the second polycarbonate and the third polycarbonate are each independently selected from: a Bisphenol A (BPA) polycarbonate having a Mw of greater than 19,800 g/mol to 22,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; and a BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 29,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] to 30,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards.
 11. The metallized article of claim 1, wherein the second polycarbonate and the third polycarbonate are each independently selected from: a linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 21,700 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; a phenol end-capped linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 21,800 g/mol as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; a PCP end-capped linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 21,900 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; a PCP end-capped linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 29,900 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; and a phenol end-capped linear BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 30,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards.
 12. The metallized article of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises 40 wt % to 85 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 15 wt % to 60 wt % of the second polycarbonate; 15 wt % to 45 wt % of the third polycarbonate; and 0.5 wt % to 10 wt % of the first polyester; provided that the combined wt % value of all components does not exceed 100 wt %.
 13. The metallized article according to claim 1, wherein the composition is selected from the group consisting of (1), (2), and (3): (1) a composition comprising 65.00 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 29.61 wt % of the second polycarbonate; 5.00 wt % of the first polyester; 0.27 wt % of pentaerythritol tetrastearate; 0.08 wt % of phosphite stabilizer; and 0.04 wt % of hindered phenol; (2) a composition comprising 65.00 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 32.61 wt % of the second polycarbonate; 2.00 wt % of the first polyester; 0.27 wt % of pentaerythritol tetrastearate; 0.08 wt % of phosphite stabilizer; and 0.04 wt % of hindered phenol; and (3) a composition comprising 65.00 wt % of the first polycarbonate; 33.61 wt % of the second polycarbonate; 1.00 wt % of the first polyester; 0.27 wt % of pentaerythritol tetrastearate; 0.08 wt % of phosphite stabilizer; and 0.04 wt % of hindered phenol.
 14. The metallized article of claim 1, wherein the composition has a heat deflection temperature of at least 160° C., measured at 0.45 MPa in accordance with ASTM D 648 or ISO 75; or wherein the composition has a melt viscosity of less than 275 Pa·s, measured in accordance with ISO 11443 at 316° C. at a shear rate of 1500 s⁻¹.
 15. The metallized article of claim 1, wherein a 3.0 mm plaque comprising the composition, metallized with a 100 nm to 150 nm thick aluminum layer using a physical vapor deposition process, and protected with a plasma-deposited siloxane hard-coat of 50 nm, has a minimum haze onset temperature of 150° C.
 16. The metallized article of claim 15, wherein the plaque has a minimum haze onset temperature of 165° C.; wherein the plaque achieves a GT0 metal adhesion rating when measured in accordance with ASTM 3359/ISO 2409; or wherein the plaque exhibits 0% corrosion when stored for 240 hours at 98% relative humidity at 40° C., in accordance with DIN
 50017. 17. The metallized article of claim 1, wherein a 1.5 mm plaque comprising the composition, metallized with a 100 nm to 150 nm thick aluminum layer using a physical vapor deposition process, and protected with a plasma-deposited siloxane hard-coat of 50 nm, has a minimum haze onset temperature of 150° C.
 18. The metallized article of claim 17, wherein the plaque has a minimum haze onset temperature of 155° C.; wherein the plaque achieves a GT0 metal adhesion rating when measured in accordance with ASTM 3359/ISO 2409; wherein the plaque exhibits 0% corrosion when stored for 120 hours at 98% relative humidity at 40° C., in accordance with DIN 50017; or wherein the plaque exhibits 0% corrosion when stored for 240 hours at 98% relative humidity at 40° C., in accordance with DIN
 50017. 19. The metallized article of claim 1, wherein a metallized part comprising the composition has an L* of 20 or less, when measured using a spectrophotometer in reflection mode with specular light excluded.
 20. The metallized article of claim 1, selected from instrument panels, overhead consoles, interior trim, center consoles, panels, quarter panels, rocker panels, trim, fenders, doors, deck lids, trunk lids, hoods, bonnets, roofs, bumpers, fascia, grilles, minor housings, pillar appliques, cladding, body side moldings, wheel covers, hubcaps, door handles, spoilers, window frames, headlamp bezels, headlamps, tail lamps, tail lamp housings, tail lamp bezels, license plate enclosures, roof racks, circuit breakers, electrical and electronic housings, and running boards, or any combination thereof.
 21. The metallized article of claim 1, wherein the metal layer has a thickness of 100 nanometers to 150 nanometers.
 22. The metallized article of claim 1, wherein the metal layer comprises chrome, nickel, or aluminum.
 23. The metallized article of claim 1, wherein the article is a molded article having a thickness of 1.5 millimeters to 3 millimeters.
 24. The metallized article of claim 1, further comprising a siloxane hard-coat disposed on the metal layer.
 25. The metallized article of claim 24, wherein the siloxane hard-coat has a thickness of 5 nanometers to 150 nanometers.
 26. The metallized article of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic composition further comprises 0.05 wt % to 5 wt % of tri(hydroxymethyl)aminomethan; glycerol monostearate; octadecanoic acid, 1,2,3-propanetriyl ester; or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.
 27. A metallized article comprising a metallized surface and a thermoplastic composition comprising: (a) 40 wt % to 85 wt % of a first polycarbonate that includes structural units derived from at least one of:

wherein R^(a) and R^(b) at each occurrence are each independently halogen, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, or C₁-C₁₂ alkoxy; p and q at each occurrence are each independently 0 to 4; R³ at each occurrence is independently a halogen or a C₁-C₆ alkyl group; c at each occurrence is independently 0 to 4; R¹⁴ at each occurrence is independently a C₁-C₆ alkyl, phenyl, or phenyl substituted with up to five halogens or C₁-C₆ alkyl groups; R^(g) at each occurrence is independently C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or halogen, or two R^(g) groups together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a four-, five-, or six-membered cycloalkyl group; t is 0 to 10; and x:y is 1:99 to 99:1, the first polycarbonate having a Mw of 16,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] to 20,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using polycarbonate standards; (b) 15 to 60 wt % of a second polycarbonate that is a Bisphenol A (BPA) polycarbonate having a Mw of greater than 19,800 g/mol to 40,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; (c) optionally 15 wt % to 45 wt % of a third polycarbonate that is a BPA polycarbonate having a Mw of 17,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol] to 40,000 g/mol [^(±)1,000 g/mol], as determined by GPC using BPA polycarbonate standards; provided the third polycarbonate is different from the second polycarbonate; and (d) 0.5 wt % to 10 wt % of a first polyester of formula

wherein T at each occurrence is independently selected from a divalent aliphatic radical, a divalent alicyclic radical, a divalent aromatic radical, and a polyoxyalkylene radical; D at each occurrence is independently selected from a divalent aliphatic radical, a divalent alicyclic radical, and a divalent aromatic radical; and m is an integer selected from 25 to 1000; provided that the combined wt % value of all components does not exceed 100 wt %; wherein the composition has a heat deflection temperature of at least 155° C., measured at 0.45 MPa in accordance with ASTM D 648 or ISO 75; wherein the composition has a melt viscosity of less than 395 Pa s, measured in accordance with ISO 11443 at 300° C. at a shear rate of 1500 s¹; wherein a molded sample of the composition has at least 60% ductility in a multi-axial impact test at 23° C., measured in accordance with ASTM D3763 or ISO 6603; and wherein the article achieves a GT0 metal adhesion rating when measured in accordance with ASTM 3359/ISO
 2409. 28. The metallized article of claim 4, wherein the first polyester is selected from poly(ethylene terephthalate) (“PET”); poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate) (“PBT”); poly(ethylene naphthanoate) (“PEN”); poly(butylene naphthanoate) (“PBN”); poly(propylene terephthalate) (“PPT”); poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene) terephthalate (“PCT”); poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene 1,4-cyclohexandicarboxylate) (“PCCD”); poly(cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) glycol (“PCTG”); poly(ethylene terephthalate) glycol (“PETG”); and poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate-co-isophthalate) (“PCTA”).
 29. The metallized article of claim 27, wherein the third polycarbonate is present in the thermoplastic composition. 